Executive Summary/Highlights: The evolution of corporate governance over the last three decades has produced meaningful changes in the expectations of shareholders and the business policies adopted to meet those expectations. Decision-making power has shifted away from industrialists, entrepreneurs and builders of businesses, toward greater empowerment of institutional investors, hedge funds and other financial managers. As … Continued
Highlights The Australian public M&A market has seen steady activity levels, with modest growth in deal volumes (by value) in the 12 months to 30 June 2016 (FY16). Success rates have remained steady, with 73% of deals announced in FY16 being completed. The level of contested bid activity rebounded in FY16 with 6 targets attracting … Continued
Executive Summary/Highlights: October 1 saw the coming into effect of the most significant reform of French contract law since the Napoleonic code was first promulgated in 1804. We survey below some of the key takeaways for dealmakers. The reform was notably motivated by a desire to maintain the attractiveness of French law. One of the … Continued
Executive Summary/Highlights: Global M&A volume in Q3 totaled approximately US$800 billion, approximately 10% lower than Q2, and over 10% higher than Q1. At its current rate, global M&A volume for 2016 is on pace to reach US$3.2 trillion, approximately the level reached in 2014 but considerably lower than the record levels of 2015. Q3 saw … Continued
Highlights: From October 1, 2016, a new FDI administration system will be launched in China. Under the new system, MOFCOM approval will not be required for incorporation or acquisition of a foreign invested enterprise (“FIE”), unless its business is on the Nationwide Negative List released by the State Council. This will increase efficiency for incorporation … Continued
Executive Summary: The year 2015 was significant for proxy contests in Canada, with a total of 55 contests, exceeding the previous record high of 43 contests set in 2009. Although the spike in the number of contests in 2015 may have been exceptional, coinciding with a period of economic downturn in Canada and continued deterioration … Continued
Executive Summary: Sitting in France, reports of the decline of activism in Europe appear somewhat exaggerated, just as the predictions of a few years ago of an impending wave of U.S.-style activist activity in Europe were equally overstated. In contrast to the rapid rise of activism in the United States, the level of activism in France … Continued
Executive Summary/Highlights: Global M&A volume in Q2 grew 25% over Q1 and exceeded US$900 billion, resulting in the second busiest first half of the year since 2010, albeit considerably slower than the recent highs of 2015. Although Europe was well represented in the largest deals, as the only non-U.S. target region represented in the top … Continued
Highlights: On December 10, 2015, Mauricio Macri was elected president ending 12 years of Peronist Kirchner rule. The new government implemented a set of regulations purported to eliminate certain foreign exchange restrictions and soften others, reactivate the economy, and allow the possibility of accessing the foreign financial market for genuine financing. As part of the … Continued
Executive Summary/Highlights: Global M&A volume in Q1 exceeded US$700 billion, the second highest start to the year since 2011, but lower than the quarterly volume of the record-setting levels of 2015. Europe accounted for one quarter of Q1 deal activity, relative to a near-term historical average of only 15%. China was another strong performer in … Continued
