Montana Power Co., Butte, with $262 million in defined benefit plan...

Montana Power Co., Butte, with $262 million in defined benefit plan assets, plans to begin an asset allocation study this quarter that could lead to manager changes, said Jerrold Pederson, vice president and CFO. Currently, the asset mix is 61.6% domestic equity, 8.6% international equity and 29.8% domestic fixed income. The target is 60% domestic equity, 10% international equity, 25% domestic fixed income and 5% cash, said Neal Hansen, financial analyst for the plan. Mercer will conduct the study.