Investor advice platforms, at both the retail and institutional level, have evolved in recent years – from the use of classic literature to expanded services offered by brick-and-mortar firms. However, with the growth of app-induced innovation, various robo-advising platforms have
Full Speed Ahead: Post-Pandemic Trends in M&A
After a nine-year low in 2020, M&A activity in Canada made a strong rebound in the first quarter of 2021. As reported by BNN Bloomberg, in the first three months of 2021, Canadian companies were involved in 1,168 deals
Funding M&A Deals with Bitcoin
As Bitcoin gains increasing traction since its inception 11 years ago, we begin to question whether it will slowly replace traditional dollar funding in M&A deals. Whether Bitcoin will be used to fund large M&A deals will likely depend on
Visiting the Doctor in a Virtual World Provides Business Opportunities in Telehealth
It is no secret that during 2020 and into 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic has created massive disruptions for a variety of industries. One such example is the movement of health care services online in order to adhere to social distancing
Earn-outs and reverse earn-outs
In May, we wrote about the increased focus on earn-out provisions during the pandemic as a method to mitigate the risk of a target’s post-closing under-performance and to bridge any valuation gap between the purchaser and seller. More recently, we
“To the Moon”: The Rise of the Retail Investor and What this Means for Dealmakers
Retail investors are becoming an increasingly significant source of capital on public markets, and dealmakers should be aware of how this development can impact M&A transactions and the decision to go public. After the latest garnering of widespread attention in
A Slow Burn: The Cannabis Sector May be Ready for Market Consolidation
The first half of 2020 saw a significant decline in M&A activity as capital markets were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the second half of the year saw a surge in M&A activity that is expected to continue into
Corporate Divorce: An Analysis of Divestments and Lessons to Carry Forward
In the midst of these unprecedented times, many companies are looking to mergers and acquisitions to realize new growth opportunities and diversify; however, before heading down this road, one question needs to be asked: is it a marriage built to
MAC/MAE Clauses in the Context of COVID-19
A recent Ontario decision of Fairstone Financial Holdings Inc. v. Duo Bank of Canada (“Fairstone”) became the first Canadian case to consider material adverse change (“MAC”) or material adverse effect (“MAE”) clauses in the
Does board diversity lead to better M&A outcomes?
Board diversity has been at the forefront of the Canadian governance landscape for a number of years, and has recently been the subject of increased stakeholder focus. While gender and racial parity are ends in themselves, recent research shows that