Topic: Technology and innovation

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A mixed bag for global M&A activity in April 2015

Mergermarket published its M&A Monthly Insider for May of 2015 earlier this week, summarizing M&A activity around the world, and particularly in the regions of North America, Central and South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Japan. To date in North America, there have been 1,516 deals worth US $407.2 billion. April 2015 … Continue reading

Future of private equity leveraged buyout financing optimistic

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on May 12, 2015 Posted in Corporate finance, Technology and innovation

Recently, RR Donnelley sought the assistance of Mergermarket Group to interview professionals in the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific about leveraged buyout financing. Mergermarket Group published its survey results on the environment of leveraged buyout financing in its April 2015 edition of the Venue Market Spotlight. Availability of buyout financing A majority of survey respondents indicates … Continue reading

M&A expectations on the rise

By Matthew Lippa (Toronto) on May 7, 2015 Posted in Corporate finance, Technology and innovation, Transport

EY has recently released the 12th edition of its annual Global Capital Confidence Barometer, a biannual survey of more than 1,600 executives of companies in 54 countries, assessing various metrics in global mergers and acquisitions. Although 2014 marked the single largest increase in M&A since the financial crisis of 2008, for the first time in … Continue reading

M&A in Q1 2015: the results are in

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on April 30, 2015 Posted in Corporate finance, Energy, Infrastructure, mining and commodities, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences, Technology and innovation

The Mergermarket Group has published its Monthly M&A Insider – April 2015 report outlining trends and developments in M&A activity worldwide for the first quarter of 2015. In North America, M&A activity continued on the upward trend set in 2014. The first quarter saw 1,116 deals valued at US $338.8 billion, which was a 11% … Continue reading

Aerospace and defense M&A returns to cruising altitude

By Bruce Sheiner on March 5, 2015 Posted in Corporate finance, Technology and innovation, Transport

Following a pullback in fiscal year 2013, deal activity in the global aerospace and defense (A&D) sector has returned to its former levels. According to PwC’s Mission Control report for Q4 2014, the past year witnessed the total A&D deal value rebound from $14.3 billion in 2013 to $22.3 billion in 2014, which is on … Continue reading

M&A trend summary: H2 2014

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on February 10, 2015 Posted in Corporate finance, Energy, Infrastructure, mining and commodities, Technology and innovation

MergerMarket Group recently published its January edition of Monthly M&A Insider which reported on mergers and acquisitions activity around the world during the second half of 2014. Among other things, the report explains why 2014 was so hospitable to M&A activity, citing an improving economy, large cash reserves, low interest rates, and cheap financing as … Continue reading

M&A: a leading growth strategy in 2015

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on December 16, 2014 Posted in Corporate finance, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences, Technology and innovation

The economic fundamentals that drive M&A are back at pre-crisis levels, states a new survey published by KPMG. The number of acquisitions that companies will undertake is expected to increase in 2015: 82% of respondents plan at least one acquisition and 10% anticipate 11 or more acquisitions next year. Indeed, the survey suggests M&A is … Continue reading

M&A in the media and entertainment industry: going over the top

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on December 4, 2014 Posted in Corporate finance, Technology and innovation

E&Y has reported that the media and entertainment (M&E) industry will experience a record high number of M&A deals in the coming year.The report surveyed executives associated with film, television, gaming, and print and digital media. Forty percent of respondents are anticipating acquisitions, with more deals in the pipeline thereafter. Inorganic growth can be a way … Continue reading

Canada blocks telecom deal for national security reasons

By Kevin Ackhurst (Toronto) on October 8, 2013 Posted in Antitrust, competition and regulatory, Technology and innovation

The Canadian government has used the Investment Canada Act to block the proposed acquisition of the Allstream division of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. by Accelero Capital Holdings for national security reasons. On October 7, 2013, the Minister of Industry, James Moore, issued a brief statement in which he noted: MTS Allstream operates a national fibre optic network that provides critical telecommunications … Continue reading

Business-related patents

By guestauthor on January 11, 2013 Posted in Intellectual property, Technology and innovation

This post was contributed by Matthew Marquardt, Partner, Norton Rose Canada LLP and Laura Johnson, Associate, Norton Rose Canada LLP “Business method” patents remain a hot topic in business and legal circles, yet are still too often overlooked – particularly in contexts such as M&A. As recently as 2011, the Federal Court of Appeal in … Continue reading

Apple’s legal win could lead to increased smartphone M&A

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on August 31, 2012 Posted in Intellectual property, Technology and innovation

A jury ruling in Apple’s favour over Samsung in the US District Court earlier this week could have a chilling effect on rivals, leaving them scrambling for alternatives to common touch-screen gestures used in many smartphones today. The awarded $1.05 billion has affected Samsung’s stock price, and may limit its access to the coveted US marketplace. … Continue reading

Even for the biggest companies, patents offer entry to new markets

By guestauthor on July 9, 2012 Posted in Technology and innovation

This post was contributed by Matthew Marquardt, Partner, Norton Rose Canada Last week, apparently by accident, Motorola Mobility leaked specs and images of its newest mobile device, the Atrix HD. This is the first new smartphone announced by Motorola since Google bought the company in May. While the device bears a strong family resemblance to earlier … Continue reading

Acquiring patent portfolios of failed or failing technology companies

By guestauthor on February 28, 2012 Posted in Intellectual property, Technology and innovation

This post was contributed by Mark Sajewycz, Partner, Norton Rose Canada LLP The market has recently begun to better appreciate the value of patents, particularly after Rockstar Bidco, LP, a consortium comprising tech giants Apple, Microsoft, RIM, EMCand Ericsson, acquired Nortel’s patents for the staggering sum of $4.5 billion. Recent innovations in the computer and … Continue reading