Belgium

BELGIUM - The IMF has said that the implementation of the second pension pillar and recent decisions on social security spending had raised pension costs above earlier projections.

UK/BELGIUM - Lane Clark & Peacock, the actuarial and benefits consultancy, has acquired Ernst & Young Belgium's actuarial consulting and IT business, in a bid to "significantly" strengthen its pan European service.

BELGIUM - The e612m corporate pension fund KBC Pensioenfonds is looking to review its global asset strategy later this year in a move that could trigger searches for hedge fund of funds and private equity managers.

BELGIUM - VKG, the e500m Belgium pension fund, is expected to allocate 5% to hedge fund of funds, following a review of its strategic allocation.

BELGIUM/GERMANY - Fortis Investments, the asset management arm of Fortis, has acquired the Japanese Equity capability of the German-owned asset manager, WestAM for an undisclosed amount.

SWITZERLAND/BELGIUM - KPMG has sold its consulting and actuarial businesses in Switzerland and Belgium to Mercer and Aon for an undisclosed amount.

BELGIUM - Money-market funds have become the latest vehicle to be processed on Euroclear's cross-border fund-processing platform, FundSettle.

NETHERLANDS/BELGIUM/UK - US-headquartered T. Rowe Price Global Investment Services (TRPGIS) has appointed Jandaan Felderhoff as director of institutional sales and client relations of its planned operations covering the Netherlands and Belgium.

BELGIUM - Belgian pension fund returns lifted by nearly 4% during the first six months of 2003, posting the highest first half returns since 2000.

NETHERLANDS/BELGIUM - PGGM, the e45bn Dutch pension scheme, is optimistic about its second quarter results following a disappointing start to the year. The Zeist-based scheme for health and social workers said that its results, which will be released...