News

Hermes has appointed Chris Godfrey as head of performance analysis and risk reporting.

CANADA - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) has acquired US-based Acquilex Holdings, a maintenance, cleaning and repair company for the oil refining, fossil power, nuclear, petrochemical and waste-to-energy industries, for an undisclosed sum.

Including: GLOBAL - Private equity inflows lowest since 2005; US - GAO says SWF data 'limited'; UK - Hermes appoints new head of performance analysis & risk reporting; UK - Somerset CC hires Standard Life for fixed interest

US - Current accounting rules have helped to improve pension scheme funding status, despite a $35bn aggregate pensions deficit, but left it vulnerable to dramatic falls, according to Mercer.

US -The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) has begun its search for a senior portfolio manager to lead the fund's corporate governance efforts.

SWEDEN - The SEK33bn (US$4.7bn) Kåpan Pensioner has moved inline with the new investment policy it decided last year and increased its allocation to alternative investments.

Lehman exposes faults in credit default swaps; Financial Crisis: How safe are your pensions and investments?; Darling in talks with banks as RBS tops list of stock market casualties; Early London rally wiped out; Treasury may take £50bn stake to shore...

NETHERLANDS - The threat of interest rate risk for Dutch pension funds has become the single most important risk driver when managing assets in a portfolio, a key industry spokesman has claimed.

UK - With the UK economy now in recession and the downturn getting worse, saving into company pensions has become less of a priority for individuals, according to Towers Perrin.

Aon Consulting has appointed two directors to its pension administration team as the business expands.