Canada

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investment Board has announced a US$50m commitment to Celtic House Venture Partners Fund III, a Canadian venture capital fund with a target of US$200m.

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board today announced the pension plan's assets grew CAN$3.9bn (e2.4bn) in the three months ending December 31, 2004, producing a rate of return of 5.2%.

CANADA - Bolstered by strong fourth quarter performances, pension funds saw returns of 10.1% in 2004, according to RBC Global Services.

CANADA - Buoyed by healthy fourth quarter performance, Canadian balanced funds posted a return of 10.1% in 2004, according to Royal Bank of Canada Global Services (RBC).

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investment Board has expanded its commitments to the infrastructure asset class by CAD$470m, including its first infrastructure co-investment.

CANADA - The solvency levels of Canada's corporate defined benefit (DB) pension plans improved, on average, by about 5% in 2004, according to new research released by Watson Wyatt.

CANADA - British Columbia's ministry of finance has selected Trema to integrate its various debt management systems into a single platform.

CANADA - The Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec will abolish its program of soft dollar commissions on equity and derivatives trading from January 1.

CANADA - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has appointed David Denison (pictured) as successor to president and CEO John MacNaughton when he retires in January.

CANADA - The new guidelines on pension plan governance issued by the CanadianAssociation of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) have been criticisedfor their failure to outline governance responsibilities of plan sponsors.