Blakes recently released its 2nd annual Blakes Canadian Public Mergers and Acquisitions Deal Study, which outlines recurring and emerging issues in the structuring and negotiation of target-supported public company acquisitions in Canada. Blakes has also released its annual M&A trends forecast for 2010.

The Deal Study's topics range from overall transaction structure and timing to specific contractual provisions. Blakes also reveals the top trends it believes will affect mergers and acquisitions in the coming year, including discussion of:

• Strategic buyers
• Growth in innovative deal structures
• Distressed transactions
• Preparing for the turnaround
• Increased antitrust scrutiny
• Hostile deals
• Green tech targets
• Strong loonie's impact on U.S. acquisitions
• Middle-market activity
• Shareholder activism
• Deal certainty
• Boards will turn to shareholder to block unwelcome bids
• Income trust M&A
• National security reviews

To view video commentaries and download PDF copies of the Deal Study and a companion document on Trends and FAQs, please visit Blakes M&A microsite by clicking here.