Columbus, Ohio - A report from Evaluation Associates conducted for the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) highlights the strong performance of the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund�s (OP&F) investment portfolio. The report, which will be presented to the ORSC Dec. 13, 2006, is a semi-annual study of investment performance at Ohio�s five public retirement systems and examines periods ending June 30, 2006.

The report indicates that OP&F had the highest return among the five systems for the first two quarters of 2006 at 5.2 percent. The report also indicated that OP&F recorded the highest returns for the five-year period (7.62 percent) and the 10-year period (8.57 percent).

"This report again shows that our long-term investment strategy is working,� said William J. Estabrook, OP&F Executive Director. �The policies and strategies put in place by our Board of Trustees are designed to take advantage of market returns to help build a secure future for Ohio�s public safety officers."

The Evaluation Associates report also indicates:

In comparison with public funds nationwide (using the Russell All Public Plan Universe peer rankings), OP&F was the top-performing fund in Ohio for the following periods ending June 30, 2006: one quarter (in the 33rd percentile), two quarters (13th) and five years (28th). (1st percentile being the highest and 100th being the lowest)
OP&F outperformed its policy benchmark return for the six-month, one-year, three-year, five-year and 10-year periods ending June 30, 2006.

The OP&F investment portfolio is currently valued at more than $11.6 billion.

About OP&F

Created in 1965 as a result of an act passed by the Ohio General Assembly, OP&F is a multi-employer pension fund serving more than 52,000 members. OP&F provides pension, disability, and survivor benefits to Ohio�s full-time police officers and firefighters and their eligible beneficiaries and sponsors health care benefits for eligible benefit recipients.