Weak Loonie, No Problem For Canadian Institutional Investors

2015 was not the kindest to the Canadian dollar as it saw its value depreciate by 15% when compared with the U.S. dollar. Despite the weakening Canadian dollar, Canadian companies remained undeterred in their pursuit of foreign acquisitions. According to a recent Bloomberg study, in 2015, Canadian companies acquired $205 billion worth of assets, almost triple the prior year's amount and almost double the previous peak of $112 billion in 2007.

Canadian institutional investors have been the primary driver of this activity. As a result of volatile market conditions and slow domestic growth, Canadian pension funds have sought to diversify. In particular, as noted in Crosbie & Co.'s 2015 Q4 M&A Report, Canadian pension funds have looked to acquire infrastructure and real estate assets in higher growth markets.