Canada’s investment banking industry is dominated by several major players. In 2020, the top 5 canadian investment banks are RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, CIBC World Markets, BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets. These banks provide a full range of investment banking services including advisory, capital raising, lending and sales & trading. Their strength comes from long operating history, strong capital base, close relationship with Canada’s largest corporations, and ability to execute complex cross-border transactions. As Canada’s economy continues to grow and capital market activities intensify, these top investment banks are poised to benefit and further consolidate their leading positions.
RBC Capital Markets tops rankings as Canada’s leading investment bank
Headquartered in Toronto, RBC Capital Markets is part of Royal Bank of Canada group, the largest financial institution in the country. It offers investment banking, equities, fixed income, currency, commodity and energy trading services. Known for advising a majority of Canada’s largest mergers & acquisitions and stock offerings, RBC Capital Markets has topped market share rankings and acted on some of Canada’s landmark transactions. With on-the-ground presence in major global financial centers, it is uniquely positioned to facilitate cross-border deals.
TD Securities gains ground with equity block trading
TD Securities is the investment banking subsidiary under Toronto-Dominion Bank group. Its competitive edge lies in block equity trading capabilities and derivative structuring skills. TD Securities has invested heavily in proprietary trading infrastructure and algorithmic models. Such efforts bear fruit in 2020 as the bank continued to gain market share in equity block trading, overtaking the #1 spot from RBC Capital Markets.
CIBC World Markets leverages debt capital market expertise
CIBC World Markets is the investment banking platform housed under Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. It has built up specialist knowledge in debt and credit markets. The bank structured numerous innovative bond offerings that provide optimal risk-adjusted returns for institutional investor clients. It also ran several landmark project financing loans in the infrastructure sector. CIBC World Markets differentiated itself and ranked among leaders in debt capital market activities.
BMO Capital Markets plays key role in mega mining deals
BMO Capital Markets is the investment banking division of Bank of Montreal group. Long known as a powerhouse in metals, mining and diversified industries deals, BMO Capital Markets worked on some of the largest gold and base metal mining M&A transactions in 2020. It also expanded advisory mandates across borders, especially between Canada and the United States.
Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets finances new economy sectors
Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets is the corporate and investment banking arm under Bank of Nova Scotia. It provides specialized industry expertise in key sectors such as technology, healthcare, power & utilities, and transportation. In 2020, Scotiabank built on its strength in these new economy sectors to capture more deals involving later stage venture capital raises, cross-border M&A, leveraged finance, as well as public equity and debt issuances.
In 2020, Canada’s top 5 investment banks are RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, CIBC World Markets, BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets. They differentiated themselves through long operating history, strong balance sheet, client connectivity, and execution capabilities in areas ranging from advisory, lending, block trading to innovative structured solutions.