Canadian M&A reaches near-record volume in 3rd quarter.

• Author: Ladd, Scott
• Position: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS - Brief article

With more than $61 billion worth of deals, the third quarter of 2010 was the second-largest quarter on record for merger deals in Canada, according to the independent tracking agency mergemarket.

In fact, the amount in total value for the third quarter was higher than the first three quarters of 2009 combined, the study of Canadian M&A found. In total, the increase in the first three quarters of this year was 60 percent over the comparable period of 2009.

Canadian deal volumes also experienced a steady increase over the first three quarters. In all, 333 deals were finalized, a 23-percent rise over the first three quarters of last year.

Canadian investors took a particular liking to the American market and available properties, with an estimated 60 percent of spending going toward these targets...