* Net assets grew to C$18.4 billion from C$17.5 billion
* CEO sees opportunities as result of market volatility
(Adds chief executive's comments)
By Matt Scuffham
TORONTO, March 14 (Reuters) - OPTrust, one of Canada's 10
biggest public pension funds, sees opportunities arising from
global market volatility this year, its chief executive said on
Monday after it reported an investment return of 8 percent for
2015.
The performance was lower than the 12 percent return
OPTrust achieved in 2014 but ahead of the average return of 5.4
percent Canadian pension funds achieved in 2015, according to
research by RBC Investor & Treasury Services.
Chief Executive Hugh O'Reilly said he expected market
conditions to remain difficult in 2016, but noted that could
present opportunities for long-term investors.
"We expect that we'll continue to see volatility on stock
markets worldwide and the low interest rate environment will
continue," he said in an interview with Reuters. "We may use our
liquidity to take advantage of market distortions as they arise
later in the year."
OPTrust, which administers the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union Pension Plan, said its net assets had grown to
C$18.4 billion at the end of 2015, compared with C$17.5 billion
a year earlier, helping it maintain the net surplus position it
has had since 2009.
OPTrust tweaked its investment strategy in 2015 to focus on
maintaining its fully funded status against the backdrop of
ongoing market volatility, economic uncertainty and persistent
low interest rates.