Emmanuel Pressman
Dec 13, 2017
Osler partner Manny Pressman characterizes the current M&A landscape in Canada as a “seller’s market” in an article in Listed. In his article, author Jim Middlemiss examines M&A trends in 2017 and describes the market as “stealth-like.” The article discusses how in 2017, it was one of the “most diverse and busiest M&A markets to hit Canada in recent years.” Pressman, Chair of Osler’s Corporate Practice Group, says this has partly been fuelled by private equity.
“It’s a seller’s market,” Pressman tells Listed. “There is so much capital chasing the same deals,” and “there is very little that does not involve private equity.”
Pressman also notes that several private equity firms face stiff competition from strategic buyers and an increasing number of alternative financing options, including pension funds and special purpose acquisition corporations (SPACs).
Retail has been particularly active, especially in the IPO space, according to Pressman, who also notes that technology has been “white hot” as U.S. sponsors and strategic buyers compete to snap up Canadian tech firms.
For more information, read “To the stealthy go the spoils” by author Jim Middlemiss in Listed.