North America

CANADA/UK - The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has signed a deal to acquire Scotland-based shipping services company V.Group for $520m.

CANADA/AUSTRALIA/EUROPE - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has struck a deal with MAp Airports to exchange its interest in Sydney Airport and a cash payment for MAp's interests in Brussels Airport and Copenhagen Airport.

CANADA/US - The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has acquired a 41% stake in US asset management firm American Century Investments in a move to increase its international asset management offerings.

CANADA/US - Apax Partners, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board have teamed up to purchase Kinetic Concepts in a $6.3bn deal.

US/UK - Russell Investments has appointed Len Brennan as president and chief executive, and as a director on the company's board.

CHILE/CANADA - The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan plans to bid to increase its stakes in two Chilean water utilities.

CANADA - The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System will increase its contribution rate in 2012 as part of a pre-agreed plan for yearly rate hikes in the three years to 2013.

US - Consultant Wurts & Associates has hired Jeffrey Scott, the investment chief of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation known for spearheading a risk-based asset allocation, to serve as CIO of its outsourcing business.

GLOBAL - Have you missed the biggest stories in pensions this week? Find out below, as we list the top 10 most popular stories on www.globalpensions.com over the past seven days.

It's been a busy month for the North American de-risking market. In March, Global Pensions reported the start of the buy-in/buyout market in the US was imminent, and likely to emerge before the end of the year. It appears we were right.