Description: Canadian companies and pension funds are on a European acquisition binge, even as U.S. and Chinese buyers slash spending on takeovers there. Europe’s low valuations and the robust Canadian dollar are spurring deals by Canadian companies such as Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) and Alimentation Couche-Tard. “Canadian companies are basically punching above their weight in the European market,” says Julian Brown, head of corporate finance for Canada at Pricewaterhouse-Coopers in Toronto.

Source: Businessweek.com

Date: Aug 02, 2012

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-02/canadian-companies-shop-for-european-assets#r=nav

Questions for Discussions:

• Explain the reasons for Canadian acquisitions in Europe?
• How significant is the strength of the Canadian dollar and commodity prices in explaining the decision to invest outside Canada?