Tag archives: PwC

Ready to rock! 2019 may see increased M&A activity among Canadian mining companies

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on May 30, 2019 Posted in Infrastructure, mining and commodities, M&A

2018 was a difficult year for Canadian mining companies. The aggregate valuation of TSX-listed miners declined by 12.7%, while equity capital raised by these companies declined by 36% from the previous year’s total. In this environment, new financings and deals have been scarce, but there is reason to believe that this trend might change in 2019, according to a recent publication by PwC.

A number of factors support the general prediction of increased M&A activity among TSX-listed mining companies. These factors include:

Increasing commodities prices. Spot prices for based and precious metals decreased across the board in 2018. However,

Asset and wealth management M&A activities in 2018 and beyond

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on February 28, 2019 Posted in M&A

Merger and acquisition activities in 2018 in the asset and wealth management sector logged a total of 140 deals, up 5% from last year. According to an overview published by PwC, the total announced value of the M&A deals was US$14.9 billion, which represented a year-over-year increase up 72% – the highest percentage increase since 2009. Interestingly, almost 40% of deals in this sector were made during the last quarter of 2018, totalling US$9.9 billion in deal value. Specifically, there were three mega-deals that exceeded US$1 billion during the fourth quarter. With respect to deal volume, the fourth quarter … Continue Reading

M&A or joint venture: key considerations for choosing your path to growth

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on April 26, 2018 Posted in M&A

Choosing to grow your business through an M&A transaction or through a strategic partnership or joint venture can be a difficult decision to make. M&A transactions and partnerships can both drive growth and bring access to new markets or product and service offerings, but they also come with unique challenges. While an acquisition allows the acquirer to gain control over the target, M&A transactions can be costly and the acquirer not only obtains the target’s business but also its liabilities, which can be significant.

Strategic partnerships, on the other hand, do not provide the same degree of control but may … Continue Reading

The tech takeover: disruptive technology as a driver of M&A

By Sean Williamson (Toronto) on April 11, 2018 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

A relentless parade of new technologies is unfolding on many fronts – one of which includes the M&A scene. While not every emerging technology will alter a business’ landscape, certain technologies have the potential to disrupt the status quo, alter the way companies operate and rearrange value pools. These “disruptive technologies” can quickly displace established systems and set new industry standards.

As an example, earlier this year, Toronto-Dominion Bank made headlines for its acquisition of “Layer 6 AI”, a start-up company which uses artificial intelligence to analyze various forms of data and anticipate an individual customer’s needs. This announcement came … Continue Reading

Global automotive M&A ends 2017 in high gear with no signs of slowing down

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on March 15, 2018 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation, Transport

As seen in this recent PwC article, global automotive M&A activity was strong in 2017. Automotive deal value increased 29.9% to $53.2b from 2016 to 2017 primarily as a result of two mega deals in the Auto-Tech sector, which PwC defines as “investments in connectivity, autonomous, electrification, ride-sharing and the software, sensors, intellectual property and other components that support these trends.” For 2018, it is expected that investments in the Auto-Tech sector will continue to drive global automotive M&A activity.

Auto-tech deals spark M&A activity

Auto-tech deal value increased from $5.3b in 2016 to $26.7b in 2017. Further, deal volume … Continue Reading

Canadian M&A: a look back 2017 and a glimpse into 2018

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on March 1, 2018 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

A retrospective look at 2017

In Canada, 2017 had the highest number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in the past five years. There were a total number of 2,274 deals carried out in 2017, compared to 1,956 in 2016. The number of “mega deals”, however, did not see an increase in 2017. “Mega deals” are categorized as deals that have a value of US $5 billion or more. The number of these types of transactions went down from seven in 2016, to two in 2017.

For 2017, PwC noted the following three common M&A trends:

1) Increased

What private equity investors look for in acquisition targets

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on January 24, 2018 Posted in M&A

According to a report by PWC, 43% of tech M&A deals were funded by private equity (PE) investors. For the deals with disclosed values, more than 52% are in the $50 million to $1 billion range.

Private equity investors may look for different factors in a target company than the traditional corporate buyer. For this reason, the dynamic of attracting offers and deal-making changes with the involvement of a private equity firm.

Focus on management

PE investors look for a company that has a clear path to deliver success. This is, among other reasons, why PE investors … Continue Reading

Why some tech M&As fail to deliver value

By Jaray Zhao (Toronto) on January 4, 2018 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

In a recent blog post, we explored the reasons why a sizable number of M&A deals fail to complete every year. As discussed in that post, the closing of an M&A deal does not necessarily announce the success of a transaction. In fact, as high as 60% of M&A deals fail to deliver value even after a victorious closing, as an A.T. Kearney study shows. The Harvard Business Review reports that the failure rate of an M&A deal falls in the range of 70 – 90%.

Extensive research has been conducted to locate the elements that are fatal to … Continue Reading

Emerging trends in Canadian real estate: mobility, mobility, mobility

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on December 20, 2017 Posted in M&A, Real estate

We have all heard the expression: “Location, location, location” when it comes to buying real estate. Though that may be true for the immovable property itself, the 2018 Emerging Trends in Real Estate report (the Report) published by PwC Canada and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) suggests that the new and emerging trend in real estate is a demand for mobility.

Mobility in capital

According to the Report, real estate business prospects in 2018 are higher than in 2017, signaling an increased optimism from owners, developers, and investors in the Canadian real estate sector. The survey also … Continue Reading

Canadian M&A activity stays hot, more in store

By Sean Williamson (Toronto) on December 14, 2017 Posted in M&A

Deal Law Wire - Norton Rose Fulbright According to a recently published PwC report (the Report), Canadian mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is booming.

We recently reported that Canadian-backed equity financing activity in emerging venture capital companies is thriving. Moreover, both funding and deal volume among Canadian artificial intelligence companies have attained record heights in 2017. However, Canadian companies more broadly appear to be enjoying a particularly prosperous year as well. This momentum in the markets translates to good news for M&A activity in Canada, which is expected to pick up further steam in 2018.

Canadian M&A: by the numbers

The first three quarters … Continue Reading

A look at the venture capital landscape in Canada

By Nader Hasan (Toronto) on November 15, 2017 Posted in M&A

PwC has recently released the 2017 MoneyTree Canada report for Q3 2017 (the Report), which provides insight into the landscape for equity financings in emerging venture capital (VC) backed companies headquartered in Canada. While it may come as no surprise that financing activity has increased in Q3 2017, the magnitude of the increase, especially for Artificial Intelligence (AI) based companies, stands out as the focal point of the Report.

Key findings

Financing activity continues to increase: Annual investment is on track for another USD $2B year invested across more than 300 deals – record

M&A: the automotive industry’s new fuel?

By Victoria Riley (Toronto) on October 24, 2017 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation, Transport

Automotive technologies are evolving rapidly and impacting not only drivers’ automotive experiences but also, the automotive industry more broadly. From assistive technologies like bicycle sensors and back-up cameras to self-driving technologies, it appears that technological innovation will be critical in order for automotive companies to maintain their relevance and competitive edge in the marketplace. However, such innovation is complicated and largely outside of the auto industry’s wheelhouse. As a result, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity may be just the tool that these companies need for harnessing this innovation and competing effectively.

The automotive industry transformation

As alluded to … Continue Reading

Trends and opportunities in InsureTech M&A

By Sara Josselyn (Toronto) on September 26, 2017 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

Insurance companies have increasingly looked at technological innovation as both an opportunity to increase profit margins, and as a potential disruptive force in the industry, with some insurance executives estimating that one third of their operations may be lost to FinTech. On-demand insurance that allows a consumer to purchase insurance on an as-needed basis has started to enter the marketplace. Despite market disruptions, there are a lot of opportunities for traditional insurance providers to take advantage of technological advancements

In today’s data driven world, insurance companies can use data analysis to improve operational efficiency. There is also an opportunity for … Continue Reading

Power & renewables M&A deals 2017: gaining momentum

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on August 22, 2017 Posted in Energy, M&A

PwC’s survey on global power and renewables (P&R) M&A trends for 2017 predicts an investment thrust for the progressive sector.

In 2016, the P&R sector’s total global deal value was the highest that it had been in the current decade, fueled, in particular, by mega deals for North American network infrastructure targets. Both corporate and institutional buyers are vying for the market’s international offerings.

Regionally, the acquisition of regulated assets defines US market growth, with deal momentum slowing and interest rates climbing. Across the water, economic growth in Europe plays out alongside waning acquisitions. However, post-Brexit, restructuring and … Continue Reading

Blockchain technology: an imminent driver of investment and M&A

By Matthew Lau (Toronto) on August 8, 2017 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

Blockchain technology has been making headlines since it emerged in 2009 in connection with the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. We’ve covered the potential use of Bitcoin in M&A transactions in previous articles in 2016 and 2014. As discussed in these articles, the volatility and lack of central authority has so far meant that the cryptocurrency plays a niche role in the capital markets.

However, blockchains – the technology behind Bitcoin – has been gaining ground for its exciting enterprise potential. We are already beginning to see companies racing to adopt this emerging technology, as more and more companies acquire the technology … Continue Reading

Set up for success? Difficulties in M&A integration

By Sara Josselyn (Toronto) on April 12, 2017 Posted in M&A

In a previous post, we discussed the impact that deal team size can have on post transaction synergies. A recent report from PwC makes clear that pitfalls in the M&A process hardly disappear once the parties have determined the make-up of their deal team. Indeed, the report suggests that without early planning, rapid execution and long-term commitment to integration completion, it will be difficult for a merger or acquisition to achieve its goals and deliver value. In an era of growing workplace diversity where numerous industries are undergoing digital disruption, this can be easier said than done.

Transformational change

Outlook on healthcare sector M&A: the next 12 months

By Sara Josselyn (Toronto) on December 7, 2016 Posted in M&A, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Previously on this blog, we reported that M&A activity in the healthcare sector was expected to rise during 2016. According to a Market Spotlight released earlier this fall by Mergermarket in partnership with RR Donnelley, dealmakers and professionals are maintaining this positive outlook. The Market Spotlight sheds light on the subsectors of the healthcare industry that are likely to experience growth, and the specific deal drivers that are expected to spur M&A activity.

In particular, the Market Spotlight identified digital health as the subsector of the industry most likely to flourish over the next year. Already, we have seen M&A … Continue Reading

Merging of digital and physical worlds: impact on M&A in non-digital industries

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on November 10, 2016 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

Strategy& of PwC published Mergercast “Digital Deals – A New Frontier” (Episode 56) in July 2016, which discusses the growing rationale for digital deal-making and post-deal challenges. Particularly, this podcast identifies that digital deals accounted for nearly 32% of all transactions in 2015, up by 20% since 2011, indicating the growing appetite for digital M&A. Many companies operating in traditional industries are looking to enter into or enhance their digital capabilities by identifying digital targets, particularly hardware, software, IT service and Internet companies. Digital deal growth is most notable in non-digital industries, such as automotive, retail and wholesale, aerospace, defense, … Continue Reading

No pause button on big deals in 2016

By Sara Josselyn (Toronto) on October 6, 2016 Posted in M&A, Technology and innovation

A recent PwC survey shows that, even after a historic year in 2015 regarding M&A activity, the ever-increasing appetite for M&A will continue its upward trend in 2016.

In 2015, 65% of all deals met PwC’s standard for “mega deals”, which PwC defines as transactions valued at over $5 billion USD. This year, the strategy to optimize results and performance through “active portfolio management” will continue to drive strategic partnerships and acquisitions in the US and abroad.

According to the survey, 59% of 97 US-based CEOs (of companies with annual revenue from $1-10 billion USD) said that they were planning … Continue Reading

M&A update in the global metals industry

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on June 15, 2016 Posted in Corporate finance

In the past, we reported on PwC’s ongoing analysis on M&A activity in the global metals industry. PwC released its most recent report in the series, entitled “Forging Ahead: First-quarter 2016 global metals industry mergers and acquisitions analysis” which breaks down the latest trends in the global metals industry, and provides insights into what the industry may expect going forward.

The major news coming out of the report is that deal volume declined to 14 deals valued at $50 million or more in the first quarter of 2016; however, deal value increased to $8.7 billion. The report concludes … Continue Reading

Aerospace and defense M&A reaches new heights in 2016

By Bruce Sheiner on May 25, 2016 Posted in Corporate finance

jet We told you in March of last year that aerospace and defense M&A activity had rebounded after a pullback in 2013. In July, we reported that M&A activity in the aviation and aerospace sectors was strong. Now, PwC’s Mission Control report for Q4 2015 has confirmed that 2015 was a record year for aerospace and defense M&A.

Total deal value in this sector in 2015 reached $61.7 billion, more than 50% higher than the previous highest year in 2007. The most recent report by PwC for Q1 2016 indicates that deal volume is down slightly as compared to Q4 2015, … Continue Reading

Looking outward for opportunity: China’s M&A activity swells amidst economic downturn

By Sara Josselyn (Toronto) on May 19, 2016 Posted in Corporate finance

On January 27, 2016, we posted a blog entry on China’s economic outlook. At that time, newly released figures showed that China’s GDP had fallen below the Chinese government’s target of 7% in the final two quarters of 2015. Since then, the Chinese government released its 13^th Five-Year plan, which lowered the economic growth target to 6.5% of GDP. Such a downturn in economic outlook raises the question, how has M&A activity been affected?

On April 25, 2016, PwC released a report that painted a rosy picture of China’s M&A activity that minimized the doom and gloom of … Continue Reading

A buzz of M&A activity in the power industry

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on May 17, 2016 Posted in Corporate finance, Energy

The power and utilities industry has seen a surge of M&A activity in the first quarter of 2016, according to a recent PWC report. The following highlights reflect an overall positive start to the year for the power and utilities sector:

Increase in total deal value. Total deal value for Q1 2016 hit $41.4 billion. This is up 260% from the previous quarter, where total deal value was $11.5 billion. Additionally, total deal value is up 508% compared to this time last year.
Increase in average deal value. The average value per deal reached $1.9 billion in Q1 2016,

Mixed start to the year for the forest, paper and packaging industry

By Kassy Corothers (Calgary) on May 12, 2016 Posted in Corporate finance

M&A activity in the global Forest, Paper and Packaging (FPP) industry took a dip in the first quarter of 2016 according to a recently released report (the Report) by Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC). PwC put the decrease of deal activity into perspective however with a press release last Wednesday, illustrating that while Q1 2016 was not as active as Q4 2015, 2015 was generally positive for the sector and PwC expects that the encouraging trends will continue this year.

The FPP industry saw an uptick of M&A activity in 2015 from 2014, with 143 deals announced … Continue Reading