CPPIB, the board that invests on behalf of more than 22 million contributors and beneficiaries of Canada’s public pension fund, was the dominant shareholder in Paris-based Orpea for a decade and lost over C$500 million dollars when it exited. CPPIB claims to be a responsible long-term investor and has a strong set of guiding principles with high ethical standards. But this debacle reveals serious shortcomings in the CPPIB’s governance and conduct, and invites questions about its broader investment approach. The collapse of Orpea was a seismic event in France, sending shockwaves through the long-term care sector across Europe. In Canada, however, it caused barely a tremor.

This report explains in detail the crisis that unfolded at Orpea and the failure of CPPIB to adequately oversee and intervene in one of its largest global investments

This is the first in a series of reports of reports to examine the role of ‘development’ finance and profit-seeking investments in Kenya’s health care sector. Multinational corporations win government contracts – no questions asked – while Kenya’s health care unions have been forced to strike to demand adequate funding for training, placement, and retention of front-line workers. Much of Kenya’s limited health budget is shifted away from direct provision of health care and towards medical equipment of questionable value. Health workers – doctors, clinical officers, laboratory staff, nurses, and others – are key to improving health care in Kenya. This report is a case study of VAMED, an Austrian multinational corporation which has sold European medical equipment, financed by ‘development’ agencies and international banks, to the Kenyan Ministry of Health and governments across the Global South. This case study reveals a major lack of transparency and accountability in Kenya’s health care spending and recommends urgent reforms.

This report looks at the expanding role of profit-seeking private sector actors in Norwegian
kindergartens. It focuses on a number of recent corporate deals that appear to have enabled
significant profit extraction for the owners of corporate kindergarten chains.

This report examines how, since the sale of a majority stake to the global asset management company, Brookfield the Colombian energy company ISAGEN has reduced investments, increased profits, and appears to have shifted profits offshore, resulting in lower tax patments and reduced investment in the companys workforce.

This report looks at the expanding role of profit-seeking private sector actors in Norwegian
kindergartens. It focuses on a number of recent corporate deals that appear to have enabled
significant profit extraction for the owners of corporate kindergarten chains.

Microsoft: Gaming Global Taxes, Winning Government Contracts

Lifting the Lid on Offshore Care Home Landlords

Death Deception and Dividends