M&A 2023 Recap and 2024 Outlook
2023 M&A Market Review M&A activity in North America slowed in 2023, marking a departure from the unprecedented highs seen in 2021 and 2022. Deal closings in 2023 were more in line with pre-COVID levels, declining 19% to 15,440 from 19,089 in 2022, and notably lower than the height of 21,180 deals in 2021. U.S.…...
Read MoreQ4 2023 Food & Beverage Quarterly Review
Amidst persisting uncertainty in other pockets of the consumer sector, the food & beverage vertical has again proven to be resilient in terms of M&A activity. Deflationary trends coupled with an on-going pent-up demand and consolidation have continued to bolster M&A appetite with healthy valuation multiples for high-quality assets. Entering 2024, we foresee a steady…...
Read MoreQ3 2023 Chemicals Sector Quarterly Update – The Prolonged (Delayed) Recovery
While it may not seem like it, there were a handful of green shoots in the third quarter that cause us to be cautiously optimistic about 2024 (despite executive sentiment reflecting more of a “grey sky” scenario, at least in the near-term). Several economic indicators point to a cooling economy and disinflationary environment – the…...
Read MoreM&A Deal Activity Stabilizing in Second Half 2023
The decrease in North American M&A deal count has shown signs of slowing down, as illustrated in the chart below. After six consecutive quarters of consistent decline following the peak in Q4 2021, the rate of decrease in deal count appears to be moderating. PKF Investment Banking estimates M&A deal activity stabilizing in the second…...
Read MoreQ3 2023 Food & Beverage Quarterly Review
The food & beverage sector has again been a consistently active vertical in the most recent quarter. As mega deals are slowly being announced more frequently, the sector’s overall M&A activity was mainly supported by middle market deals of smaller size. Despite a few remaining sector headwinds, deflationary trends are beginning to appear at the…...
Read More7 Reasons to Use an Investment Banking Team to Sell Your Company
Are You the Best Person to Sell Your Business? Enhancing deal value and increasing certainty to close are what investment bankers do every day. As competition and technological advances continue to drive consolidation across many industries, it's likely you've been contacted by a variety of buyers, or their agents, interested in acquiring your company. According…...
Read MoreChemicals Sector Quarterly Update: Key Themes and M&A Trends
The uplift in the chemicals sector in the first half of 2023, largely expected from China’s reopening of its economy following restrictive COVID lockdowns, did not materialize, diminishing the optimistic outlook on which a recovery was predicated. As a result, U.S. chemicals companies, most notably commodity companies, are heavily weighted on the second half of…...
Read MoreQ2 2023 Food & Beverage Quarterly Review
The food & beverage market continues to display its recession resilience as demonstrated by a steady stream of M&A transactions. Strategic acquirers’ activity in the sector remains elevated as they aggressively pursue accretive consolidation opportunities. Private equity buyers maintain a healthy presence in the space but have been increasingly selective in their acquisition strategy. However,…...
Read MoreM&A Deal Activity Slowed Down In First Half of 2023
North American merger and acquisition (M&A) deal volumes slowed down in first quarter 2022 after a record-setting 2021. Year-over-year deal volume decreased 11.5% over first quarter 2021. Deal activity, nevertheless, was still in line with that of the last five years. With strong corporate balance sheets and record private equity (PE) dry powder...
Read More10 Ways to Position Your Business for a Successful Sale
While you may be confident in the unique advantages and future prospects of your company, most potential buyers will need to be convinced beyond a doubt. Strength testing your business before approaching buyers is critical. When your company's information and outlook are transparent, buyers will compete to buy it, driving price and favorable deal terms…...
Read MoreGet the Right Value – Don’t Do It Alone with One Buyer
Financial buyers deploy significant resources to contact private companies to purchase a company below its true market value. Before agreeing to sell, here are some important Do’s and Don’ts for sellers to consider. As a Seller: Questions You Might Ask Yourself Why would any buyer pay the high end of their value range or offer…...
Read MoreObtaining Premium Value for Your Company
North American merger and acquisition (M&A) deal volumes slowed down in first quarter 2022 after a record-setting 2021. Year-over-year deal volume decreased 11.5% over first quarter 2021. Deal activity, nevertheless, was still in line with that of the last five years. With strong corporate balance sheets and record private equity (PE) dry powder...
Read MoreExpect M&A Deal Volume in 2022 to Be at Pre-Covid Levels
North American merger and acquisition (M&A) deal volumes slowed down in first quarter 2022 after a record-setting 2021. Year-over-year deal volume decreased 11.5% over first quarter 2021. Deal activity, nevertheless, was still in line with that of the last five years. With strong corporate balance sheets and record private equity (PE) dry powder...
Read MoreM&A Middle Market Update Q1 2022
North American merger and acquisition (M&A) deal volumes slowed down in first quarter 2022 after a record-setting 2021. Year-over-year deal volume decreased 11.5% over first quarter 2021. Deal activity, nevertheless, was still in line with that of the last five years. With strong corporate balance sheets and record private equity (PE) dry powder...
Read MoreM&A Middle Market Q4 2021 Update
M&A Deal Activity Reached Historical Highs in 2021 North American mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal volume hit a record high in Q4 2021 reaching over 4,400 transactions. Total 2021 deal volume of 16,718 was also a record high and a 25% increase over 2020. With easy access to capital, low interest rates, and a recovering…...
Read MoreCheck these 5 Boxes Before Choosing an M&A Advisor to Sell Your Company
The 2022 outlook for deal activity is robust and sellers are expected to hold the advantage − as long as they have a skilled M&A team leading the way. By Robert Murphy, Senior Managing Director Engaging an effective Mergers & Acquisition (M&A) advisor to sell your company is critical to a successful outcome. Even the…...
Read MoreM&A Lower Middle Market Q3 2021 Update
M&A Deal Activity Continued its Record-setting Pace in Q3 2021 North American M&A deal activity remained robust in Q3 2021 following a strong H1 in 2021 and a record-breaking fourth quarter in 2020. YoY deal volume in Q3 increased 28.6% over Q3 2020. Through the first three quarters of 2021, deal volume is on pace…...
Read MoreM&A Deal Activity Continued to be Robust in Q2 2021
North American M&A deal activity remained strong in Q2 of 2021, following a strong first quarter in 2021 and a record breaking fourth quarter in 2020. YoY deal volume was 57.6% higher than the volume in Q2 2020. Through the first half of 2021, deal volume is on pace to approximate record highs. Closed M&A…...
Read MoreM&A Deal Activity Continued its Momentum in Q1 2021
North American M&A deal activity remained robust in Q1 of 2021 following a record-breaking Q4 in 2020. However, year-over-year deal volume was 9.3% lower than Q1 2020. Closed M&A Deals in North America (Q2 2019 – Q1 2020) The vaccine rollout is helping to reduce uncertainty for buyers and sellers and CEO confidence levels, as…...
Read MoreM&A Deal Activity Surged in Second Half of 2020
After a precipitous decline in Q2 2020, mergers and acquisitions transactions in North America rose 84% from Q2 to Q4 2020 after experiencing a 38% decline in Q2 and a 22% decline in Q3. The sharp recovery saw the total number of deals in 2020 reach 8,413, only an 11.4% decline from 2019. Q4 2020…...
Read MoreBusiness Owners – Are You Prepared if a SPAC Comes Knocking?
If you mentioned the acronym “SPAC” a few years ago you were likely met with a blank stare. While COVID-19 led the headlines in 2020, SPACs became the hottest investment vehicle on Wall Street dominating the initial public offering (IPO) landscape and private equity has played a significant role in the SPAC boom. Private equity’s…...
Read MorePPP Loan Guidance When There’s a Change of Control
Questions remain, but it’s time to move forward When it comes to merger and acquisition activity, 2020 may very well become the year of “two halves.” After a significant decrease in M&A activity as a result of the pandemic in the first half of the year, we’re now seeing a notable increase in deals. According…...
Read MoreM&A Outlook for 2021: An Active Seller’s Market
A Wealth of Opportunity for Owners Considering Selling Their Businesses The year ahead holds the promise of a dynamic seller’s market likely to drive a healthy mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. Companies with strong operating performance should be highly competitive. With a flexible approach and proper planning, even those that suffered setbacks can garner buyers…...
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