France

FRANCE - Utilities giant Electricité de France (EdF) has agreed to a sweeping reform of its pension plan in response to European Commission demands.

FRANCE - BNP Paribas Asset Management is actively targeting European pension funds and asset managers with a range of new hedge fund products.

France - Aventis, the Franco-German pharmaceutical company, has decided to infuse an additional e1.5bn to its pension fund in Germany.

FRANCE - France has overtaken the UK as the favoured destination for cross-border investment in commercial property according to DTZ Research.

FRANCE - France's nascent pensions reserve fund, FRR (Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites), is looking to tender for firms to oversee transition management, and exposure to both benchmark and currency risk.

FRANCE - UFE, the French electricity industry employers' association, has been presented with a draft government bill on proposed reforms to the pensions structure of the country's gas and electricity sectors, writes Les Echos.

UK/FRANCE - Watson Wyatt has appointed Jean-Francois Tondreau as a senior international consultant in its benefits practice.

FRANCE - SG is reinforcing its pan-European equity research team with the appointment of Benoît Valleaux as senior insurance analyst.

UK/FRANCE - Unions are seeking reassurances from nuclear power group Areva over workers' pension rights.

FRANCE - Paris-based Oddo Asset Management has strengthened its team with three new senior hires.