To outsiders, cross-country skiing may seem like a calm, low-stress activity. But many trails have unexpected challenges for even experienced skiers. “There are trails with some short but terrifying hills. There are some where you can’t see some of the hill from the top,” says Julie Cays, chief investment officer of the Colleges of Applied […]
Aon Corporation reported its second-quarter results today, showing an increase in earnings of 69% compared with Q2 of 2010 ($258 million versus $153 million). Revenue increased 48% for the company to $2.8 billion, ahead of operating expenses, which increased 46% to $2.38 billion. Greg Case, the company’s president and CEO, attributed the strong showing to […]
OMERS is expanding its transportation holdings with the purchase of one of the world’s largest shipping service firms. The private equity arm of OMERS has announced an agreement to acquire V.Group Limited for US$520 million. V.Group, which operates across 34 countries, is the global market leader in outsourced ship management and a leading player in […]
The trend toward DC plans creates a host of new challenges: for plan sponsors, whose members look to them for investment information; for governments under increasing pressure to ensure that Canadians have sufficient income in retirement; and for Canadians themselves, who need to take the initiative to ensure that they’re able to save a suitable […]
The prices of many of the world’s most popular prescription medications are set to decrease over the next year and beyond, as patent expiries open the door to generic equivalents. According to the Associated Press (AP), seven of the top 20 best-selling drugs are set to lose patent protection over the next 14 months, including […]
OMERS Private Equity, the private equity arm of the OMERS Worldwide group of companies, has purchased Accelerated Holdings, LLC from San Francisco-based private equity firm Gryphon Investors. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Accelerated Holdings, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Chicago, is a leading provider of traditional and specialty outpatient physical rehabilitation services […]
Watch this video Instability in global markets over the past few years has challenged investor confidence in foreign investments and made many people question how to effectively manage a global portfolio, according to Philip Falls, senior investment consultant with PBI Actuarial Consultants. “The theory says you should be [invested in global markets]. But if you […]
Watch this video Migrating the HR claims process from a paper-based environment to an automated solution can help organizations streamline processes and increase efficiency. But organizations need solutions that work for their unique needs. Shirley Powell, manager, HR planning, systems and rewards, with Toronto Hydro Corp., says the organization is currently seeking a solution to […]
The Benefits Canada 2011 ranking of the Top 100 Pension Funds paints an encouraging picture. With 97 of the listed funds posting increases in pension assets for the year, many plans are recovering nicely from the economic turmoil they faced just three years ago. Still, the funded status of the average Canadian pension plan was […]
After the economic turmoil that defined 2008 and decimated assets in many pension plans, few expected the turnaround in markets that occurred in 2009. In last year’s Top 100 Pension Funds Report, 66 of the funds on the list posted double-digit increases in assets for 2009. Only eight ended the year with decreases. While many […]