Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, Toronto, opened an office in London, hoping to increase the C$52 billion (US$44.8 billion) systems investment in Europe, confirmed spokeswoman Janice Wong.
The office will be a European launching pad for the systems four investment arms: Oxford Properties Group, which manages C$16 billion in real estate for OMERS; the C$25 billion Borealis Infrastructure; OMERS Private Equity, which manages C$3.6 billion in global funds; and OMERS Capital Markets, which manages C$37 billion equity and fixed income worldwide.
OMERS already has C$5 billion in U.K. real estate and infrastructure investments.
The system plans to invest 42.5% of net investment assets in private markets globally, Michael Nobrega, OMERS president and CEO, said in a statement.
We want access to large-scale opportunities and co-investment capital around the world, Mr. Nobrega said in the statement. Locating in London expedites the process and enables us to dip into the local talent pool for professionals with global vision.