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ACS/Buck Continues Working with Lafarge Canada

ACS/Buck has been retained by Lafarge Canada to continue providing administration services for Lafarge’s defined benefit(DB)pension plans. Under terms of the three-year contract, ACS/Buck will maintain a centralized database of all plan records, provide employee benefit statements and benefit calculations, process pension payments and assist with employee communication materials. “By truly acting as an extension […]

  • July 11, 2007 September 13, 2019
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Rising Rates Help Pensions

The financial health of Canadian pension plans continued to strengthen in the first half of 2007, says a Mercer report. “The improvement is due to an increase in long-term interest rates that have lowered the cost of pensions,” explains Paul Forestell, retirement professional leader at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Long-term rates have risen by about […]

  • July 10, 2007 September 13, 2019
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CPPIB to invest in TSX rival: report

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is in discussions to invest in Alpha, a rival to the Toronto Stock Exchange, according to a newspaper report. The Globe and Mail reports that the board is interested in buying a 10% stake in the alternative trading system backed by Canada’s Big Six banks and Canaccord Capital. The […]

  • July 10, 2007 September 13, 2019
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Pension funded ratios hit highest level in five years

Pension funded ratios have reached their highest levels since 2002 as conditions for Canadian pension plans steadily improve, according to Watson Wyatt Worldwide. For a typical pension plan, the pension funded ratio has increased to 102% at the end of the second quarter of 2007, up from 86% at the beginning of 2006, on a […]

  • July 9, 2007 September 13, 2019
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State Street launches new long/short strategy

State Street Global Advisors is launching its Canadian Index Plus Edge strategy, designed to provide a bridge between low risk/low value-added passive portfolios and high risk/high-value added active strategies. The Canadian Index Plus Edge strategy takes short positions up to 10 percent, which in turn fund an additional 10% of long positions, thereby maintaining net […]

  • July 9, 2007 September 13, 2019
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Teachers’ selling Samsonite stake

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and other principal shareholders in Samsonite have agreed to sell their interest in the luggage maker. CVC Capital Partners is acquiring the firm for US$1.7 billion—including the assumption of debt—from Teachers’, Ares Management, and Bain Capital who collectively own 85% of Samsonite’s common stock. The transaction is expected to close […]

  • July 9, 2007 September 13, 2019
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Groupworks buying Gallivan & Associates

Groupworks Financial has agreed to acquire Gallivan & Associates Student Networks for $6.1 million. ”We are acquiring a strong and well-known national practice, which expands our client base across the country, and demonstrates our continued commitment to partnering with premier benefit and pension advisory firms in Canada,” says Derrick March, CEO of Groupworks. Gallivan, established […]

  • July 9, 2007 September 13, 2019
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Frontlines: Kerry Verdict Overturned

  The Ontario Court of Appeal answered some key questions for pension plan sponsors in June’s decision regarding the Kerry(Canada) Inc. v. DCA Employees Pension Committee case. It dealt with a lot of different issues, but there are two that are of reasonable importance, says Paul Timmins, a senior consultant with Watson Wyatt Worldwide in […]

  • July 1, 2007 September 13, 2019
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BCE reviewing offers

BCE says it has received “several proposals” regarding a potential takeover. “The company is currently reviewing these proposals and will provide further details at the appropriate time,” says a statement issued by the firm. Media reports say the bids by a group led by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and another consortium led by Canada […]

  • June 29, 2007 September 13, 2019
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Investment managers bullish on equities

The majority of Canadian investment managers are bullish on the equity market, according to a quarterly poll. The latest Russell Investment Manager Outlook finds that 68% of managers believe the Canadian equity market is fairly valued, which is 19% higher than a year ago. “Meanwhile, sentiment for the bond market turned sharply negative in the […]

  • June 29, 2007 September 13, 2019
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