Executive Summary/Highlights: Global M&A reached an all-time high in 2015, with record volume of almost US$5 trillion, beating 2007’s prior (inflation adjusted) record of US$4.7 trillion. Q4 2015 was the most active quarter ever, with more than US$1.5 trillion in deals announced, including the two largest deals of 2015 – Pfizer’s acquisition of Allergan and … Continued
Main Article In our annual forecast of the year ahead for Canadian competition and foreign investment review law, we evaluate how developments in 2015 will influence these areas of the law in 2016. Our top issues and trends to watch for this year include the following: The impact of the new federal government. Although foreign … Continued
Executive Summary Italy is experiencing an M&A boom that is bringing volumes closer to those of the golden years (2005, 2006 and 2007). The acquisitions wave includes deals from both strategic investors and private equity. Infrastructural funds are now investing in Italy, where they find opportunities at prices more attractive than in Northern Europe, in … Continued
Executive Summary Revised notification requirements with regard to significant shareholdings conferring voting rights in companies listed in Germany as well as with regard to (financial) instruments regarding such shares in force since 26 November 2015 Mandatory standard form for notifications to be used Scope of sanctions for breach of disclosure requirements substantially broadened One-off disclosure … Continued
In brief The low oil price and limited capacity for oil and gas producers to further reduce operating costs is presenting challenges for producers of all shapes and sizes. In 2015 we expect that a number of producers will conduct strategic reviews which may lead to the sale of ‘non-core’ assets. Traditional solutions of raising … Continued
Main Article: Recently, there have been three important studies by prominent economists and law professors, each of which points out serious flaws in the so-called empirical evidence being put forth to justify short-termism, attacks by activist hedge funds and shareholder-centric corporate governance. These new studies show that the so-called empirical evidence omit important control variables, … Continued
Highlights: On September 4, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada held that the Ontario court has jurisdiction to hear an action brought by Ecuadorian plaintiffs seeking the recognition and enforcement in Ontario of an Ecuadorian judgment against the U.S. multinational corporation Chevron (Chevron US) and its Canadian subsidiary (Chevron Canada) even where Chevron US had … Continued
Highlights: The Takeovers Panel recently issued a draft guidance note on when shareholder intention statements to accept a bid may be unacceptable. Statements of intention from major shareholders to accept a takeover bid or vote in favour of a scheme should be qualified as being subject to no superior proposal emerging. Shareholders should allow a … Continued
Executive Summary/Highlights: Global M&A volume in Q3 exceeded US$1 trillion, a quarterly figure second only to 2015’s Q2 in recent years. M&A volume through the first three quarters was US$3.2 trillion (an increase of 30% over the same period in 2014), and year-to-date volume through the date of publication is the strongest on record. These … Continued
Executive Summary: Memorandum published by the General Director of the Israel Antitrust Authority earlier this year proposed reform that reflects a considerable expansion in the application of Israeli antitrust law to mergers between foreign corporations, as well as mergers involving Israeli and foreign corporations (including the acquisition of an Israeli corporation by a foreign corporation … Continued
