M&A Forum 2026 — Topics That Matter. Conversations That Move Us Forward.

On November 18, 2026, the M&A Forum returns for a completely reimagined 21st edition, placing conversations and connections among participants at the heart of the experience.

This year, the Forum is moving away from a traditional series of presentations in favour of six workshops exploring a range of timely topics shaping today’s transaction market. Each workshop will take the form of an interactive roundtable discussion led by industry experts.

Speakers will open the conversation by sharing their experience, real-world cases and the key issues surrounding each topic. Participants will then be invited to actively contribute to the discussion, ask questions, compare perspectives and share their own experiences.

The objective: to elevate the quality of the conversations, bring together a broader range of perspectives and create more meaningful connections among members of the M&A community.

The day will begin with a luncheon for all participants, an overview of entrepreneurship through acquisition in Québec and the presentation of a landmark transaction. It will continue with the workshops and conclude with a major networking cocktail reception at Espace CDPQ.

General Information

The M&A Forum will take place at Place Ville Marie in Montréal.

The luncheon and opening presentations will be held at the Salon Ville-Marie, located on the second floor of Place Ville Marie, while the workshops will take place in our partners’ offices throughout Place Ville Marie. All participants will then gather at Espace CDPQ for a major networking cocktail reception.

Schedule

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Participant Welcome and Registration

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. — Luncheon, Opening Conversations and Case Study
Salon Ville-Marie, second floor of Place Ville Marie

2:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Interactive Workshops and Roundtable Discussions
Our partners’ offices at Place Ville Marie

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. — Grand Networking Cocktail Reception
Espace CDPQ

Opening Conversations

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition and the New Dynamics of the M&A Market

The luncheon will begin with a conversation moderated by Ugo Dionne, President of the M&A Club, alongside two leading figures in Québec’s entrepreneurship-through-acquisition ecosystem.

The discussion will provide an overview of entrepreneurship through acquisition in Québec and the new dynamics shaping the M&A market in Québec and across Canada. The panellists will reflect on the past year’s key developments and share their perspectives on the evolution of the market, setting the stage for the afternoon’s conversations.

Featuring:

• Alexandre Ollive, Repreneuriat Québec

• Nathaly Riverin, Québec’s Chief Entrepreneurship Transfer Officer

Anatomy of a Transaction: Ludia, Winner at the 2026 M&A Awards Gala

A closer look at a landmark transaction: the acquisition of Ludia from Jam City by a consortium of Canadian investors led by Jimmy Gendron, Alexandre Thabet and the management team, with the participation of several institutional partners.

This discussion will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the transaction, the roles played by the various stakeholders and the key challenges encountered throughout the process.

Prospective participants: Ludia, BDC Capital, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Investissement Québec, EDC and W Investments.

Six Topics at the Heart of M&A Conversations

The afternoon will feature six interactive workshops organized around three major themes.

Each workshop will be designed as a genuine conversation between the speakers and participants. A brief introduction will set the stage before the discussion opens to the room, allowing ideas, experiences and different perspectives to circulate freely.

The workshops will take place in our partners’ offices at Place Ville Marie:

• Dentons

• Lavery

• Blakes

• RBC

• Gowling WLG

Transactions and Value Creation

Anatomy of an International Transaction

Transaction structuring, cross-border considerations, stakeholder coordination and the challenges encountered through closing will be at the heart of the conversation. Participants will also be invited to share their own experiences and discuss the unique realities of international transactions.

Long-Term Incentive Plans in a Transaction Context

How can long-term incentive mechanisms be used to align the interests of executives, key employees, shareholders and investors before and after a transaction?

The discussion will explore equity-based compensation, phantom shares, talent retention and post-transaction value creation. Participants will compare different approaches and consider which mechanisms are best suited to the specific context of a company and its transaction.

Capital and Valuation

Beyond Financing: How Institutional Investors Create Value

The role of institutional investors extends far beyond providing capital. This roundtable will explore how they contribute to strategic guidance, the financing of growth and acquisitions, access to international networks, and the preservation of decision-making centres in Québec.

The conversation will allow investors, executives and advisors to compare their expectations and perspectives on long-term value creation.

Valuation in a Changing Market

How should a company be valued in an environment shaped by changing interest rates, multiples, financing conditions and buyer expectations?

The speakers will open the discussion by examining purchase price adjustments, earnouts, vendor financing and the outlook for the M&A market in 2027. Participants will be invited to enrich the conversation by sharing the trends and realities they are observing in their own transactions.

Risk, Reputation and Execution

M&A and Private Equity: Two Approaches to Business Transfers

How can M&A transactions and private equity offer complementary solutions to entrepreneurs preparing to transfer their businesses or plan for succession?

This roundtable will bring together different perspectives to compare these approaches, better understand their respective advantages and examine the factors that may influence the choice of a structure or partner.

Communicating a Transaction: Before, During and After the Announcement

A transaction does not unfold solely in the negotiation room.

This conversation will address internal and external communications, confidentiality management, employee announcements, coordination between buyer and seller, and the media and reputational considerations surrounding integration.

Drawing on real-world situations, speakers and participants will discuss best practices, risks to anticipate and the decisions that can influence both the perception and success of a transaction.

Grand Networking Cocktail Reception at Espace CDPQ

From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., all participants, speakers and partners will gather at Espace CDPQ for the M&A Forum’s closing networking cocktail reception.

More than simply the conclusion of the day, the reception will be a natural extension of the roundtable discussions and conversations initiated during the workshops.

In a welcoming atmosphere, participants will have the opportunity to continue their conversations with the experts, explore the topics in greater depth, reconnect with existing contacts and build new relationships with professionals from across the transaction ecosystem.

Advisors, investors, lenders, executives, entrepreneurs and other market participants will come together in one space, creating a unique opportunity to connect the different segments of the M&A community.

The reception will also allow attendees to meet participants from the other workshops and exchange perspectives on the full range of topics discussed throughout the afternoon.

A Format Designed to Keep Ideas Moving

This new edition of the M&A Forum is designed to:

• present a wide variety of timely and practical topics;

• transform every workshop into a genuine roundtable discussion;

• encourage conversations between experts and participants;

• bring together different perspectives on the same issue;

• incorporate case studies and real-world transactions;

• give participants the opportunity to share their experiences and questions;

• create more connections among members of the M&A community; and

• bring the entire ecosystem together during the opening conversations and the networking cocktail reception at Espace CDPQ.

Whether you are an advisor, investor, lender, business executive or transaction professional, take part in this reimagined 21st edition of the M&A Forum.

Reserve your place and join the conversations shaping the transaction market.