Canadian pension funds have outperformed their counterparts elsewhere, and a recent study co-authored by Associate Professor of Finance Sebastien Betermier examines how they’ve accomplished this. The study analyzes four deals – in the agricultural, railway transportation, real estate development, and financial services– that diversified their holdings and enabled their success.
More than 3 million Canadians will be facing mortgage renewal in the next 18 months – and with interest rates still at their highest level in years, many will face payments that are 30-40% higher. “Inflation has been off the charts for the past couple years, and when the Bank of Canada raises interest rates, it is to bring inflation down,†explains Sebastien Betermier, Associate Professor of Finance.
Congratulations to Michael Richardson (GCPA'18, 2018 CFE Honour Roll and Gold Medal in Quebec) on receiving the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA)Teaching Award for Guest Lecturers for the second time!
This award recognizes excellence in teaching by guest GCPA lecturers. Excellent teaching can be demonstrated through a well-designed course, engaging in-class activities and materials, use of innovative teaching strategies, and a commitment to improving one's courses through feedback.
Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) Tian Cheng Huang (BCom’22, GCPA‘23) and Kyra Swift (BCom UOttawa’21, GCPA’23) have been named to the Honour Roll of the (CFE) for their outstanding results.
It has been a challenging few years for supply chains. After pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, many retailers increased their inventory for the 2022 holiday season. After all, demand was still booming at the time. But demand has come down off its peak, and that presents an entirely different problem for retailers in 2023. Some major retailers have reduced inventory so as to not be left with products they can’t sell.
After a childhood spent in France, Ireland, Nigeria and Singapore, JP Chauvet’s career has spanned yet more countries and continents. He was lured from London to Montreal to work for Lightspeed, where he is Chief Executive Officer. Growing up, Chauvet never felt fully accepted in any one place, but his ability to understand different cultural perspectives has been an asset in his career. “Everybody always asks what’s your superpower, and it’s kind of a weird question, but I can be in Paris and understand how people think.
Brett Miller (BCom’86) moved to Montreal to study at Â鶹AV, but he has made the city his home and become a leader in Quebec’s business community. Now the CEO of the real estate development company Canderel, Miller is concerned about the Quebec government’s plan to double tuition for out-of-province students beginning in Fall 2024. “To suggest that out-of-province students don’t contribute to the dynamism of the city is such a false message to send.
After working in investment banking in Amsterdam, New York and Tokyo, Sarab Hans (MBA’00) returned to Canada to take the reins of the family business. Mississauga-based Hans Dairy specializes in South Asian dairy products, but Hans didn’t have experience in dairy food and beverage production and needed to learn about the manufacturing process. “Sometimes, when we come into a position where we’re expected to be a leader, we feel like we need to show we know everything,†Hans says in interview with Food in Canada.
Scouring for holiday gifts at bargain prices is a savvy way to cut costs, but the allure of Black Friday deals sometimes masks potential pitfalls. In an article for BNN Bloomberg, Associate Professor Vivek Astvansh emphasizes the need for caution among bargain hunters to ensure they're fully informed about any unforeseen conditions.
This year, Canada’s large grocery chains are freezing the price for a greater variety of items than usual before the holidays. While 10-15% more products are included in the freeze this year, the true test of affordability will come later. “How high will grocery prices be when the price freeze ends?†asks Professor Saibal Ray in an interview with CBC Radio’s As It Happens.
Ava Labs, a software provider for the Avalanche blockchain network, has launched a new podcast series under its Owl Explains initiative. “Crafting the Crypto Economy†spotlights top researchers from leading academic institutions and features Â鶹AV Desautels Assistant Professor of Finance Thomas J. Rivera as part of the opening lineup.
Â鶹AV Desautels graduate Avneet Bhabra (BCom’23)’s research paper “23% and Counting, but Not ‘One Size Fits All’: Helping Canada’s Immigrants Strengthen Their Financial Knowledge†has been published by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) on Canada.ca. Focusing on financial literacy amongst immigrants in Canada, the paper was selected as a finalist in the undergraduate category of the FCAC’s 2023 Building Better Financial Futures Challenge.
The inaugural Â鶹AV Desautels Management Science Case Writing Competition, organized by Assistant Professor (Teaching) Rob Glew and supported by EY, turns the tables on the traditional case competition format. Since May, 34 BCom students worked to write case studies on their experience with operations management and analytics on their summer work placements.
When a company declares bankruptcy, the spotlight often falls on its creditors, primarily focusing on corporate debt from financial institutions. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the significant role of suppliers in the company's journey through bankruptcy. While financial institutions play a key role, suppliers can also be instrumental in the company's successful emergence from bankruptcy proceedings. Suppliers stand to gain more by supporting their buyer's recovery instead of witnessing the liquidation of assets.
Canadian pension funds are strategically divesting from their private equity holdings to realign their portfolios. Recognizing the inherent lag in private equity valuations compared to publicly traded assets, the move aims to address potential overvaluations, particularly in the context of rising interest rates.