M&A Torys’ Top Trends For 2010

Article by Krista Hill, Michael Pickersgill, Joris Hogan, James C. Tory, Ian Arellano, Blair Keefe, Jay Romagnoli, Richard Willoughby, Patricia Koval, Patrice Walch-Watson, Stephen Donovan, Cameron Koziskie, Paul Cowling, Sharon Geraghty, Cheryl Reicin, Phil Mohtadi, Sue-Anne Fox, Jay Holsten and Omar Wakil

We predict that 2010 will be remembered as a comeback year with significant M&A activity. While 2009 was a slow year in the M&A space, in 2010 the pickup in M&A activity will be considerable.

We expect activity to include acquisitions in the "green" and media and telecom sectors. Life sciences will continue to be robust though mid-market focused. Well-run Canadian pension funds and banks will also take advantage of their relative strength to make international acquisitions. Large conglomerates, including financial institutions, will carve out their non-core assets. Private equity is also showing signs of renewed interest in acquisitions.