Defined benefit - in recent years, many DB plans have been closed to future participation, since employers prefer the financing predictability of DC plans.

Defined contribution - note that there are still minimum guaranteed returns to be complied with.

Cash Balance - this type of plan is a mixture of both DC (periodic payments) and DB (guaranteed result).

It is important to identify early on whether the pension plan is incorporated in a company collective bargaining agreement ("CBA") or if there are also industry-wide plans in the particular industry sector, which are set up by the employers’ organizations and trade unions in the so called business sector committees ("BSC") (note that industry-wide plans often allow opt-outs, meaning that employers can establish their own equivalent arrangement). Also the particular type of transaction has an impact on the future obligations regarding supplementary pensions, so it is key to discuss the type of transaction with pension counsel early to discuss (and keep open) all options.