Managing in a downturn

Commentary and Analysis

For insights into the current economic downturn and practical advice on how to manage your business successfully through challenging times, read the thoughtful commentary and analysis from our experienced professionals.

Contact a member of the PwC team to learn more how we can help you manage through the downturn.

Points of view

Business options in hard times
Join Dave Planques and Calum Semple for a live chat on March 10 at noon EST at the ReportOnBusiness.com website.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 22
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speakers Vanessa Iarocci and Rozanne Kibel, who discuss currency fluctuations in the down economy.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 21
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speakers Mike Harris and Matthew Wetmore who talk about tax strategies to save you cash in the down economy.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 20
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speakers Paul Murphy and Normand Champigny, who talk about the mining industry in the down economy.

Back to Basics
The majority of private companies in Canada surveyed for PwC’s 2009 Business Insights report said they have not noticed any significant changes over the past year when it comes to accessing capital.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 15
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speakers Scott Bolton and John Williamson who talk about the oil and gas industry in the downturn.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 14
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speakers Janice Russell and Doug Frost who talk about tax strategies to save you cash in the down economy.

Not Managing your Risk is Risky Business
If there’s any lesson that has been learned from the global financial meltdown, it is the importance of risk management.

Banking Review: Spring 2009
This PwC Banking Review edition discusses concerns about risky clients, managing costs through strategic vendor management, tax implications resulting in various sourcing decisions and valuation control in turbulent times.

Managing IT through the Downturn
This PwC publication describes how organizations can manage their IT costs through the economic downturn.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 7
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Peter Dale, who talks about the recession’s impact on the private equity market.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 8
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Chris Dulny, who talks about the need to innovate, especially in a down economy.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 9
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speakers Mike Harris, Brenda Eprile and John Clappison, who talk about risk management for directors.

Freezing Your Estate
If you were to sell your business today, the value will have dropped. And that is why an economic downturn might be the best time for an estate freeze.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 6
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Mike Walke, who talks about the recession’s impact on financial reporting and accounting.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 5
PwC's Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Mike Walke, who talks about the recession's impact on financial reporting and accounting.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 4
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Calum Semple, who talks about why cash is kind in a tight economy.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 3
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Ken Goodwin, who talks about valuations in a down economy.

Transcript: Strategy Talks – with Dean & Helen: the PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series -- Episode 2
PwC’s Strategy Talks podcast series welcomes guest speaker Dave Planques, who talks about restructuring in a down economy.

Show Me the Money... Please!
When it comes to credit there is no distinction being made between companies private and public, small and large. Bottom line: the liquidity of the capital markets has dried up.

Our Tax Planning Opportunity Alerts
PwC's Tax Planning Opportunity Alerts provide ways to help you conserve working capital by reducing or recovering your cash taxes.

Directors’ Briefing: Market Turmoil
In this Directors’ Briefing, corporate finance and restructuring specialists Mike Vermette and Jim McGuigan discuss market conditions and where the market is heading as well as identify challenges and opportunities.

Dealing With Your Banker
The credit crunch and the economic downturn means that lenders continue to take a much more cautious stance. But dealing with your banker doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience.

Playing the Long Game
This article discusses our six key steps to taking a long-term approach to dealing with an economic downturn.

Global Credit Crisis: Challenges Facing your Company in these Uncertain Times
The following is the full presentation of our Global Credit Crisis seminar, held in Windsor, Ontario on November 25, 2008

Banking Review: Finding competitive advantage through adversity
This issue of the Banking Review focuses on some of the key issues within the Canadian banking industry, including IFRS, boosting profitability and the availability of capital to Canadian borrowers.

Insurance Review, Special Edition
In this special edition of the Insurance Review, PwC explores some of the issues insurance companies may be facing in the wake of the economic crisis

Managing in a Downturn
Only a little over a year ago, Canadian companies were full of optimism and few worries—but the tide has changed and business leaders today are now scrambling to figure out how to get through the tough times. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ John McKenna offers a few key strategies to help private companies navigate through the good, the bad and the ugly of an economic downturn.

The Upside of a Downturn
Economic downturns separate the wheat from the chaff. To succeed, many business leaders believe they have to buckle up, batten down the hatches, cut the fat, tighten their belts and reigns and pull up their socks.

Credit Crunch
The Financial Stability Forum (FSF) has released a report that provides the global business community with 67 recommendations for dealing with the current credit crisis.