Topic: Technology and innovation

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

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, … Continue reading

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

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 … Continue reading

Modern M&A deal process: focus on negotiated sales and increased usage of technology

Technology is increasingly playing a bigger role in M&A deals, transforming the way transactions are priced, negotiated and completed. The use of different platforms is facilitating transmission of deal information to a wider group, and as a result, crucial stages in a deal can now be done remotely and simultaneously by several deal parties. Moving … Continue reading

M&A trends: augmented and virtual reality

Since Facebook’s $3 billion acquisition of Oculus VR – a company that develops and manufactures virtual reality headsets – augmented and virtual reality technology has become a major topic of discussion in the M&A world. For those who are new to this emerging industry, virtual reality is an artificial, computer-generated simulation of a real life … Continue reading

New cybersecurity requirements for DFS-regulated entities

New cybersecurity requirements for Department of Financial Services (DFS)-regulated entities took effect on March 1, 2017. The New York DFS created these requirements in response to recent or potential threats to sensitive electronic information, particularly financial information and private consumer information. EY’s report provides an overview of the new framework with implications for the affected entities. … Continue reading

Back to the basics: the business value in keeping human interaction

In today’s market, there is significant buzz around phrases such as automation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics and the like. Many businesses are investing in the fast-paced technology sector and innovating outdated systems for customer engagement. For example, earlier this year, the first U.S.-based robotic café opened its (figurative) doors to patrons in San Francisco, … Continue reading

Technology M&A outlook

KPMG LLP’s survey predicts M&A deal levels in 2017 will be steady from 2016, with the technology industry leading expectations for high activity. This follows from 2016’s profile for tech M&A deals, which had EY’s Global technology M&A report for Q3 2016 highlighting digital technologies as driving tech M&A deals for both tech and non-tech … Continue reading

Artificial intelligence M&A: the new gold rush

While many people are still in shock after discovering that there is actually no human controlling the steering wheel in autonomous cars, tech companies, including Google, IBM, Yahoo, Intel and Apple, have found themselves in the middle of a gold rush for artificial intelligence (AI) companies. According to recent research by CB Insights, around 140 … Continue reading

M&A transactions between fintech companies and traditional banks

Financial technology (fintech) companies like Square, Wealthsimple and Mint are already having disruptive effects in their respective industries, changing the way Canadians pay for goods and services, invest their savings, and manage their finances. A recent survey shows that Canadians are becoming less dependent on traditional banks given the variety of options to self-manage their … Continue reading

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

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. … Continue reading

A global overview of M&A activity: August 2016

MergerMarket Group recently published its September edition of Monthly M&A Insider which reported on mergers and acquisitions activity around the world for the month of August 2016. More than two thirds into the year, August was no exception to the recent rather sluggish growth in M&A activity, especially compared to the record-breaking year for M&A … Continue reading

M&A activity in the healthcare sector is on the rise

M&A activity in the healthcare industry has been on an upwards trend since our last update. Good Foundations: Building Healthcare M&A and Real Estate, a report by Mergermarket on deal-making trends in the industry, found that about 90% of the respondents expect healthcare M&A to rise over the next year. The value of healthcare deals in … Continue reading

Deal maker or deal breaker? Information security during M&A

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) recently published its Statement of Priorities for the Financial Year to End March 31, 2017 (the Statement). The Statement unveils a new area which the OSC intends to focus its key resources and actions on – cyber resilience. For many, this does not come as a surprise, particularly given the high-profile … Continue reading

M&A update in the global technology industry for Q1 2016

According to a report recently published by Ernst &Young (EY) entitled “Global technology M&A report: 1Q16 final look – Digital disruption, slow organic growth drive tech deals”, mergers & acquisitions in the global technology industry remained strong in Q1 2016, despite macroeconomic uncertainty particularly in the equity and debt markets. Interestingly, the deal volume in … Continue reading

What can companies learn from PE sharks?

Divestment is one strategy that a corporation can use to unlock funds for future growth and create long‑term shareholder value. According to a recent E&Y study, a successful divestment must meet three criteria: (i) it must create a positive impact on the valuation multiple of the remaining company; (ii) it must generate a sale price … Continue reading

Year in review: deal drivers in the Americas in 2015

Mergermarket recently released its 2015 full-year edition of Deal Drivers Americas (the Review). This comprehensive review of M&A activity in the Americas confirmed that 2015 was a year of mega-deals. Transactions involving giants such as Pfizer, Time Warner Cable, and Kraft contributed to an increase of 30% in M&A value, reaching a total of US$4.28 … Continue reading

New Year’s resolution: buying & selling smart

2015 was a huge year for global M&A with deal activity reaching $4.2 trillion by the middle of December.  If 2016 continues at the same pace, be prepared for a big year of M&A activity. In order to be well equipped for the upcoming year, ask yourself the following two questions when contemplating an M&A … Continue reading

Acquisition: the key to innovation

It has become increasingly difficult to deny that we live in an age of technological innovation – particularly  entrepreneurial innovation. Many cities across Canada contain the components of an ideal start-up environment: a diverse culture receptive to innovation, top quality educational institutions, and willing investors. According to a 2012 report by Canadian Business, Western Canada … Continue reading

Mid-market deals dominate in Canadian M&A in Q1 2015

Crosbie & Company’s quarterly Canadian M&A Report has indicated an overall decline in activity for the first quarter of 2015, with total deal volume down 7% and total value down 46% from the previous quarter. Deal size Accounting for the decrease in deal value is the fact that the majority of transactions this quarter took place … Continue reading
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