News

GLOBAL - Sovereign wealth funds worth $4trn in assets have resumed their moves into alternative assets in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, new research by Preqin showed.

The Employers Pension Forum has attacked unions over planned strike action in protest at changes to the university pension scheme, saying it will damage the higher education sector.

State pension reform: £140 a week for everyone; Iain Duncan Smith reveals plan for flat-rate £140 state pension; Government eyes reform of basic state pension; Pension funds call for more long-dated gilts; David Cameron confronts the great divide

GLOBAL/UK - Fidelity International has appointed Chris McNickle as global head of institutional.

Corporate schemes must increase transparency and demand more responsible investing from their asset managers to keep pace with pension funds outside the UK, UKSIF says.

Fidelity International has appointed Chris McNickle as global head of institutional.

Aegon UK chief executive Otto Thoresen has been appointed as director general of the ABI and will take up his new role on April 4.

GERMANY - Germany's largest public pension fund, Bayerische Versorgungskammer, is to invest at least €1.2bn ($1.7bn) in individual hedge funds via Man Group's managed account platform.

US - Acadian Asset Management has launched an emerging markets equities version of its managed volatility strategy and has already secured a $100m mandate from a US pension fund, the firm said.

SOUTH AFRICA - Towers Watson has doubled its stake in South African actuarial and employee benefits firm Fifth Quadrant and appointed Nigel Biggs as managing consultant in the country.