Arguing that its share price doesn’t reflect its “considerable growth prospects,” Telus said it will stop raising its dividend payouts, wind up a program allowing shareholders to take dividend payouts in discounted shares and increase efforts to sell assets. That includes stepping up the hunt for a partner to invest in Telus Health, a subsidiary that provides both care and workplace benefits services. At mid-day, Telus’s share price had ticked up about 2.4 per cent. (The Logic)

Talking point: Telus chief financial officer Doug French said in recent investor conferences that the telecom wants to squeeze maximum efficiencies out of Telus Health’s acquisitions of benefits companies LifeWorks and Workplace Options before bringing in a partner with an investment worth $1 billion to $2 billion within 18 months. The deal might be a joint venture rather than selling equity for cash, French said then. In a November earnings call, French said Telus is also looking for a partner to invest in Telus Agriculture.