Articles by Derek Decloet and Kevin Orland

Trudeau Hits Canadian Insurers and Banks With Billions in Extra Taxes

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is imposing a one-time windfall levy on Canada’s major banks and permanently increasing their income tax rate, fulfilling an election promise that has raised the ire of the industry’s top executives. The measures will force banks …

Definity Financial’s CEO Plots Acquisitions After Insurer’s Canadian IPO

Definity Financial Corp., the 150-year-old insurer that held its initial public offering [on Nov. 17], will look to use its newfound access to capital to expand through acquisitions, the firm’s top executive said. Chief Executive Officer Rowan Saunders said the …

P/C Insurer Definity Raises $1.1B in Largest Canadian IPO of 2021

Definity Financial Corp., the property and casualty insurer formerly known as Economical Mutual Insurance Co., raised about C$1.4 billion ($1.1 billion) in the largest Canadian initial public offering of the year. A total of 63.6 million shares were sold for …

Canadian P/C Insurer Definity Seeks to Raise $1 Billion in IPO

Definity Financial Corp., the property and casualty insurer formerly known as Economical Mutual Insurance Co., is seeking to raise C$1.25 billion ($1 billion) in an initial public offering, following in the footsteps of other large Canadian insurers that have moved …

Canadian Insurtech Farmers Edge Raises $100 Million in IPO

Farmers Edge Inc. raised about C$125 million ($100 million) in its Canadian initial public offering after selling shares at the top end of its marketed range, according to people familiar with the transaction. Farmers Edge sold shares for about C$17 …

AI Startup that Uses AI and Partners with Re/insurers, Now Is Seeking Canadian IPO

Farmers Edge Inc., a firm that uses artificial intelligence to help growers boost crop yields, is seeking to raise about C$100 million ($79 million) in an initial public offering to strengthen its finances and repay debt. The Winnipeg, Manitoba based …

Canada’s Intact Financial Caps Decade of Acquisitions with $9.4 Billion RSA Deal

After a decade of buying up rivals to become Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer, Intact Financial Corp. is looking across the Atlantic with its biggest deal yet. Intact sealed an agreement Wednesday to buy the Canada, UK and international …

New Unicorn Wealthsimple Plans Insurance, Mortgage Products Buildout Before IPO

Fresh off achieving a $1 billion valuation, Wealthsimple Inc.’s top executive says the firm has more work to do before pursuing an initial public offering. The online investment company, which on Wednesday announced a new funding round that raised C$114 …

Legal Marijuana Worries Canadian Oil Companies with Strict Drug Testing Regimes

Once recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada, Garnet Amundson says it will get a lot harder to find the workers he needs at Essential Energy Services Ltd. And he isn’t the only employer who’s worried. Essential Energy provides services to …

Staples Still Tallying Costs of Data Breach

Staples Inc., the world’s largest office-supply chain, said it can’t yet “reasonably” estimate the potential losses and expenses it will incur in connection with the possible credit-card data breach disclosed last month. While the company said it believes the malware …