Dealmakers Expect M&A Activity to Pick Up in Second Half of 2009

ACG-Thomson Reuters Mid-Year 2009 DealMakers Survey Reveals Obstacles and Opportunities for M&A and Private Equity Investing
- - - - - - -
Private Equity Firms Concentrating on Portfolio Company Improvements

CHICAGO, May 13, 2009 – Middle market merger professionals are close to unanimous as to the current state of the M&A market – it is not good. Yet most anticipate it will improve in the second half of 2009, led by distressed sales and by mergers in healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing and distribution, and financial services. The mid-year 2009 survey results were announced today at ACG InterGrowth, Wynn Las Vegas.

The latest twice-yearly survey of by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and Thomson Reuters reveals the most negative outlook in the five-year history of the survey, with 88% of dealmakers saying the current M&A environment is fair or poor, compared to 86% in December 2008.

Over the next six months, the 703 middle market investment bankers, private equity professionals, corporate development officers, lawyers, accountants and business consultants polled expect the number of M&A transactions to:
Increase (56%)
Remain the same (34%)
Slow further (10%)

For links to the complete report, go to http://chapters.acg.org/global/default.aspx