Tag archives: Canada

Navigating the new Investment Canada rules for state-owned enterprises

On December 7, 2012, the Canadian government approved two proposed investments in Canadian energy companies by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under the Investment Canada Act (ICA): the proposed acquisition by PETRONAS of Progress Energy Resources Corp. (Progress) and the proposed acquisition of Nexen Inc. (Nexen) by China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC). Norton Rose Canada represented … Continue reading

Trends in Q3 M&A activity

Canadian M&A activity was down sharply in Q3, but the proposed $15.1 billion takeover of Nexen Inc. by China National Offshore Oil Company Limited drove the overall value of deals up 23% over Q2 and 16% over Q3 2011.  PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) recently released its report, Capital Markets Flash: Q3 Canadian M&A Deals Quarterly, which outlined … Continue reading

M&A Trends for Q2

 Yesterday Price Waterhouse Cooper released its Q2 M&A report on the 721 deals worth $47.7 billion announced in that quarter, and there were a few surprises. Although deal volumes, as expected, declined 7% over Q1 and 14% over Q2 2011, many Canadian entities are focusing on foreign markets, including Europe. In Q2 Canadian acquisitions into … Continue reading

M&A trends look positive in 2012

Grant Thornton recently released its 20th annual International Business Report on M&A in which it suggests the market for M&A looks strong both globally and in Canada, as businesses look to invest cash resources built up over a period of slow M&A activity.  Based on our experience, we have certainly noticed an increase in M&A … Continue reading

Amendments to Investment Canada Act intended to increase transparency

On April 27, 2012, the federal government announced it would amend the Investment Canada Act to allow the Minister of Industry greater flexibility in explaining why a proposed foreign takeover of a Canadian business raises preliminary concerns.  The amendments, contained in the government’s annual budget bill, will also empower the Minister to accept offers of security … Continue reading
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