Deals volume increases, US remains largest outbound destination
TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - According to PwC Canada's first Deals report, the number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) through Q3 2017 increased to 1879 from 1522 during the same period in 2016, a significant increase. The United States remained the largest outbound destination with deal volume growing 27% (from 245 to 310). The report focuses on M&A activity in Canada from Q1-Q3 2017.
According to the report, the overall M&A market deal volume is up 23%, but deal value has taken a modest dip. The report also indicates that there were fewer 'mega-deals' (over $1B+) so far in 2017 which impacts the overall average deal values. Outbound deals reflected the overall market, as volume increased 17%, but at a lower average deal value.
Outbound deals to the US were strong, with volume growing largely due to deals in the technology sector and real estate sector. In tech, there was strong growth in IT services and consulting deals, while software deals were roughly flat. As for the real estate sector, development and operations businesses saw strong deal activity, while real estate services were flat. Consistent with the broader trend, smaller outbound deals to the US between ($50M–$1B) saw robust growth, while outbound mega-deals to the US (>$1B) were down slightly.
"The boost in deal volume in 2017 makes for interesting analysis. The strong North American economy and large pools of capital to invest contribute to a very active deal market in Canada despite the high valuations and an 80 cent Canadian dollar (on average). Buyers should be focused on ensuring they have a strong value creation strategy for acquisitions," says Dave Planques, National Deals Leader, PwC Canada. "This is the first time we're issuing this type of report in Canada and we look forward to seeing the trends in the future."
Through Q3, private equity (PE) firms and pension funds have been highly active in the M&A space, with activity growing almost 40% in volume of buy-side and sell-side deals. The average deal size has increased by approximately 20% in 2017 for those deals with disclosed value.
Four key takeaways that have important implications for active buyers and sellers in the M&A space:
- Ask yourself, is now a good time to sell?: Valuations are high and there is plenty of capital looking for deals, including a very well funded PE sector with plenty of dry powder.
- Buyers should "stress test" purchases: If you have capital to deploy, you'll need a strong investment rationale that can justify the high valuations that you may need to pay to land a deal. Make sure to stress test any deal before signing.
- Post-deal value creation is key: Buyers need to have a concrete plan for changing the way the business operates, rather than just buying and holding. If you're going to pay today's high multiples, you'll need a strong post-deal value creation strategy.
- Go where the market is less crowded: In the $25–$50M "bucket," multiples are lower and there's generally less competition (including less PE focus).
To access the report, click here.
About PwC Canada
At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 6,700 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms, which comprises more than 236,235 people in 158 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca.
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SOURCE PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Pierre Campeau, Manager, Public Relations, T: 416 687-8643, Email: [email protected]; Rachel Strong, Manager, Public Relations, T: 416 687-8341, Email: [email protected]
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