Legal Trends 2016: Capital Markets

We expect economic conditions, including those discussed in our  M&A Trends piece​, to continue to create opportunities in the M&A market. As well-positioned issuers pursue these opportunities, some acquirers will access the public markets for financing. Issuers whose equity is not under pressure will be the most favourably positioned to use their shares as acquisition currency. Privately placed debt capital markets transactions may also be utilized to finance acquisitions. The energy sector, in particular, will have many opportunities, as discussed in item six below, and distressed M&A in the oilpatch, whether as whole business or select asset acquisitions, will likely create financing opportunities for both the public and private markets in 2016.