Aerospace, defence mergers worth $43 bn in 2011

Two separate articles in the New York Times suggest that M&A activity will increase into the $2.7-$3 trillion range in 2011 (see Deal Makers Cautiously Return and M&A Ready to Soar). From the former:

The world must spend an extra US$700-billion a year to curb its addiction to fossil fuels blamed for worsening floods and heat waves and rising sea levels, a study issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF) showed on Monday. As government and business leaders prepare to meet at the forum in Davos, Switzerland this week, the world’s nations are divided over who should pay for lowering emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for a growing number of extreme weather events.

ergers and acquisitions in the global aerospace and defence sectors fell to their lowest levels in a decade last year as companies shied away from major deals, according to a report released by PricewaterhouseCoopers on Monday

Editor’s Note: Andrew R. Brownstein is a partner in the Corporate Department at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. This post is based on a Wachtell Lipton firm memorandum by Mr. Brownstein, Steven A. Rosenblum, Adam O.

Hollywood is making the case that the growing popularity of U.S. films in China is a boon to both countries.

WASHINGTON — A gauge of planned U.S. business spending increased by the most in just over a year in January and new orders for long-lasting manufactured goods excluding transportation rose solidly, pointing to underlying strength in factory activity. The Commerce Department said on Wednesday non-defence capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, jumped 6.3%, the biggest gain since December 2011, after slipping 0.3% in December. Economists had expected this category to only rise 0.2%.

(Reuters) - The U.S.

Canadian real estate investment trusts have outperformed the Toronto Stock Exchange for four straight years and a fifth may be on the horizon. In a year-end report, CIBC analyst Alex Avery notes the Canadian REITs are on pace for a total return of about 17% in 2012 which is 10 percentage points better than the S&P/TSX Composite Index.