Q1 | TORYS QUARTERLY • WINTER 2020

2020 Business Outlook

Mega-deals, VC trends, developments in sustainable finance and more: get our insights on what business leaders will need to watch in the year ahead.

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Included in this report:

Dealmaking

Big deals propelled M&A in Canada last year in spite of global volatility. What effect will this have on deals in the year ahead?

Canadian M&A 2020 outlook
Large transactions and busy investors meaningfully moved the dial in Canada’s M&A landscape last year in spite of volatile head winds from the international stage. 
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  • 2020 trends in venture capital
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  • Pre-signing commitments in co-investments: What to know before committing
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  • Latest M&A trends set Canada apart from the U.S.
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Debt financing can be a strategic alternative for certain revenue-generating startups. Innovations in startup debt financing have begun to address the traditional cost of borrowing through debt financing.
—From "2020 trends in venture capital"

Governance and strategy

Regulators continue to address the role companies should play in issues of broad importance, including climate change and diversity.

Preparing for the 2020 proxy season: Key governance matters in Canada
A broad range of corporate governance considerations will influence this year’s reporting season. Read about what Canadian companies should have on their watchlist for 2020.
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  • Sustainable finance gaining traction
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  • Canada-U.S. plan to limit reliance on other countries for critical minerals
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  • Are we there yet?: Realizing the legal industry's service potential
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Directors and management should conduct self-assessments related to their climate change-related risk assessment expertise as well as considering investors' perspectives on related issues.
—From "Preparing for the 2020 Proxy Season: Key governance matters in Canada"

Litigation

2020 appears set to continue the ongoing engagement between courts and governments in Canada, with serious implications for court proceedings and pipeline projects alike.

Is cooperative federalism for losers?
Every kindergarten teacher tells their students about the benefits of cooperation. Cooperation, the theory goes, means working together, allowing people to hit heights of accomplishment that they could never reach by themselves. We are told that when we cooperate, nap time is more fun, everyone’s milk and cookies are a little more delicious, and no one throws sand in your face.
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  • Top 5 securities litigation and enforcement issues to kick off 2020
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  • Will Ontario’s proposed amendments to the Class Proceedings Act work to level the playing field?
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Cryptocurrencies-related issues continue to be at the forefront of securities regulatory efforts, and we expect this trend to continue in 2020, with ongoing scrutiny on crypto issuers.
—From Top 5 securities litigation and enforcement issues to kick off 2020

Past Editions

Quarterly
Q3 | Summer 2024: U.S. business and the 2024 election
 
Jul 24, 2024
Quarterly
Q2 | Spring 2024: The governance issue
 
May 30, 2024
Quarterly
Q1 | Winter 2024: 2024 outlook: Canadian innovators and investors look ahead
 
Jan 16, 2024

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