TUESDAY JANUARY 27, 2009

AIG ACQUISITION EXPANDS BMO CLIENT PRODUCTS
Through the acquisition of American International Group Inc. (AIG) Canadian life Insurance Company of Canada, BMO Financial Group can offer clients a wider range of investment, financial planning and insurance solutions. The reported $375 million all-cash transaction is expected to close by June 1, 2009 subject to regulatory approval. According to the media release, strong direct-marketing capabilities, agency relationships, and wealth management products of AIG, provide BMO with a well-established platform for growth. Gordon Henderson, Senior Vice-President, Insurance, BMO Financial Group, noted in addition "AIG Life of Canada's leading direct marketing capabilities are highly complementary to our strategy of offering a broad range of easy-to-understand insurance products." The company will be known as BMO Life Insurance Company and operate under the BMO Insurance brand. Learn more: www.bmo.com


TRANSCONTINENTAL EARNS FSC, SFI, PEFC CERTIFICATION
Transcontinental Inc. announced it has received triple chain of custody certification in all 45 of its facilities in Canada and the United States. This certification designates that the process by which paper is made promotes sustainable forest management standards. Transcontinental has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC.) Clients in Canada and the United States will have their work designated with the appropriate logo when work is printed on certified paper. These printed pieces can be tracked from the harvesting of the wood through distribution as part of a chain of custody process. The third party audit was performed by SmartWood for FSC and by Price Waterhouse Coopers for PEFC and SFI. Learn more: www.transcontinental.com


EMPLOYERS FOCUSING ON SMART USE OF HR BUDGET
According to a survey recently conducted by Hewitt Associates, Canadian employers are avoiding layoffs where possible. Instead they are looking at alternative solutions to manage Human Resources budgetary constraints, while still investing in programs that drive employee engagement. Few are cutting back on employee benefit programs - and reductions are on discretionary spending such as business travel. Hewitt Canada concludes that Canadian companies don't want to be short of employees or up-to-date skills when the economy improves. The survey results cite limited layoffs but fewer new hires. Any layoffs reported are in the manufacturing sector, or at retail, financial and pharmaceutical companies. Most organizations do not expect to use early retirement programs to manage workforce numbers. The majority of employers surveyed intend to leave their medical, dental, and disability benefits unreduced - some even intend to enhance their health and wellness programs to reduce stress and maintain productivity.
  Learn more: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2009/22/c9567.html?view=print


SECOND IMPLEMENTATION TIMING - CANADA POST RATES
The February 23rd implementation timing of prices for Canada Post regulated services are for the rates originally advised in July 2008. Members were advised earlier this month about the six week implementation delay and Canada Post sent an additional notification to contract holders. If you have not received your notification please click here for information:
  Please contact your meter supplier to determine when these new rates will be available for download or input to your equipment.

REMINDER: PREVIOUSLY ISSUED DECEMBER 15, 2008
Members are reminded of the Ontario Waste Diversion Act (WDA) review mandated by the Minister of the Environment. Although the January 15 deadline for comments has passed, the Minister will continue to engage stakeholders if amendments to the Act are considered necessary. Comments can still be provided until February 27th for the Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) review of the Blue Box Program. Click here for backgrounder and contact points (eView December 15, 2008):

NAMMU MEMBERS ARE SAVVY BUSINESS MAIL CONSUMERS
NAMMU members are smart, well-informed, well-connected and well prepared to make the right mail decisions. Know someone who needs to be a NAMMU member? membership@nammu.org
 

The KMR Group Inc., all rights reserved.
eView is the electronic bulletin of the National Association of Major Mail Users highlighting issues of interest to business mail communication and delivery professionals. Content: KMR Group. The information contained in eView is obtained from various sources and believed to be reliable but accuracy cannot be guaranteed.