As 2016 draws to a close, Ernst & Young has released its 15th edition of its Global Capital
Confidence Barometer (the GCCB), which looks
forward toward the trends and expectations in the M&A market
for 2017. The GCCB is survey of more than 1,700 senior executives,
including 52 Canadian executives, from large global companies
located in 45 countries around the world, representing 18 industry
sectors.
This past year was an active time for M&A and according to
the GCCB, this trend will continue into the new year. In total, 57%
of all executives surveyed plan to make acquisitions in 2017, with
48% of Canadian executives expecting to pursue an M&A
transaction in the next year. Though the respondents do not believe
that 2017 will be quite as prolific as 2015, 44% percent of
Canadian respondents still expect the market for acquisitions to
grow over the next 12 months, compared to only 14% at this time
last year. This optimism comes despite a certain amount of economic
and
