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Public sector organizations today often face the twin challenges of fiscal restraint and shifting policy goals. An outside perspective can be key to navigating these challenges to help deliver on public commitments.

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy released the Government’s 2021 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review November 4, 2021.

Q3 2021 M&A activity in the North American food and beverage industry was highlighted by higher average transaction values, despite fewer transactions compared to the preceding quarter.

Oil prices surged to multi-year highs, spurred by an energy-supply crunch as winter approaches. Global benchmark Brent futures for December rose above CAD $106 a barrel, reaching the highest intraday level since 2018.

In Q3 2021, transaction volume and value in the North American manufacturing sector fell compared to the previous quarter. Total disclosed transaction value decreased 54% from $72.2 billion to $33.3 billion year-over-year (YoY), remained below the quarterly 5-year average of $87.2 billion.

M&A activity in the North American agriculture industry has continued to rebound, with 116 total transactions in Q3 2021, the third-highest total by volume in a quarter since Q3 2017, trailing only Q1 2021 and Q2 2021. Total transaction value in Q3 2021 exceeded $15 billion, the fourth highest transaction value in a quarter since Q2 2018.

Aggregate deal value increased from $5.7 billion across 85 transactions in Q2 2021 to $5.9 billion across 75 transactions in Q3 2021.

The technology industry experienced a decrease in both transaction volume and transaction value from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. Total transaction value decreased from $122 billion to $79 billion and transaction volume decreased from 181 deals to 151 deals.

Engineering and construction merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Q3 2021 was approximately $1.1 billion in disclosed transaction value across 200 deals in Canada and the US. US transactions accounted for 186 of these deals, representing an increase of 37.8% from the previous quarter.

Healthcare merger and acquisition activity in the third quarter of 2021 exceeded $10 billion in disclosed transaction value across 578 deals in Canada and the US.