Global M&A value reached a record $1.2 trillion in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 60% while the number of deals decreased by 11% when compared to 1Q 2017. This is the strongest first quarter since records began in 1980. In the US, deal value rose by 59% and the number of deals […]
2017 saw a higher number of smaller acquisitions. Global M&A value remained flat at $3.6 trillion while the number of deals increased by 3% to 49,448 when compared to 2016. Average deal size reached $73 million, a 3% decrease. In the US deal value dropped by 16% while the number of deals rose by 14%. Average […]
2017 has been an exciting year. From regulatory changes to tax reform, to the economy, navigating the business environemnt has been filled with ups and downs. Despite this, 2017 was a strong year for M&A activity, especially in the middle market. In light of the volatility, companies turned to smaller deals rather than larger transactions […]
Overall deal value and volume remain flat, but middle market activity is on the rise. When compared to 2016, worldwide M&A value and volume remained relatively flat for the first nine months of 2017, rising only 2% and 0.4%, respectively. In the US, announced deal value dropped 12% while the number of deals rose 18%, […]
Worldwide, deal activity in 1H 2017 was relatively flat when compared to 1H 2016. Deal value increased slightly by two percent and the number of deals dropped just four percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. In the US, although deal value dropped by 16 percent, the number of deals rose by 17 percent compared to […]
Think you can only acquire a for-sale company? Think again. Although it may seem impossible to buy a “not-for-sale” company, a company that is “not-for-sale” simply means it is not actively thinking about selling. However if the owner receives a compelling offer, they might change their mind. Here are four reasons why a not-for-sale acquisition […]
M&A activity has been trending upward in the last year and half to two years. There was a particular uplift in 2015 which reached the record-breaking value of $4.3 trillion worldwide. Some of that was fear-based because of what was going to happen with capital gain rates so many deals were completed in the latter half […]
Does this sound familiar? You want to grow through acquisitions, but there are no good companies to acquire. While it may seem like there are absolutely zero acquisition prospects, usually that is not the case. Many companies struggle to find acquisition prospects because they are focusing on only on industry partners, suppliers, or competitors they […]
We usually think acquirers are big, multinational companies that gobble up their smaller competitors. However, that’s not always the case. Hudson’s Bay, which has a market value of $1.5 billion, is interested in acquiring Macy’s, which has a market value of $9.4 billion. This transaction challenges common perceptions about acquirers and sellers and demonstrates that […]
Capstone Vice President Matt Craft presented at the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program orientation in Richmond on January 19. For 14 years, Capstone has helped Virginia companies grow through our participation in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s VALET program. Matt talked about how leaders can identify the best markets for growth their companies […]
Global M&A reached $3.7 trillion in 2016, dropping 16%, and the number of deals increased slightly by 1% when compared to last year. While 2016 did not match 2015’s record-levels, activity was still robust. Compared to 2014, activity increased by 5%. Activity in the fourth quarter reached $1.2 trillion with 13,504 deals announced, a 50% […]
2016 continued be a strategic, rather than a financial buyer’s market and strategic buyers deployed large cash reserves to pursue growth through M&A. Unlike financial buyers, which typically look for a three to five years return on investment, strategic buyers can afford to pay more due to their long-term focus. The middle market has been eager […]
Are you thinking about growing your business? In any business endeavor, having the right questions is often half the battle. Join us for a new webinar on “7 Strategic Questions to Ask Before Pursuing Mergers & Acquisitions” on Wednesday, December 7. We will cover 7 powerful questions that have been tried and tested with dozens of […]
The Guideline Public Company (GPC) Method is one of the more popular valuation methodologies because people often hear about it in the news or in presentations. This method identifies prices for individual shares of publicly traded companies that are subject to the same industry dynamics as the subject company (the company you are trying to […]
After hitting record-high levels in 2015, global M&A activity dropped significantly in the first half of 2016. It was the slowest first six month period for global mergers and acquisitions in the past two years. The value of deals decreased from $2.03 trillion to $1.65 trillion (19%) while the number of deals decreased from 22,153 […]
Most people tend to go with their “gut” when making decisions rather than relying on the accurate data. You might think you’re the exception, but studies conducted by psychologists Daniel Kahnerman and Amos Tversky show that “when it comes to decision-making, humans are predisposed to irrationality.” No one likes to think of themselves in this […]
As Vice President, Matthew Craft will continue to execute strategic mergers and acquisitions for middle market companies. Capstone, a leading management consulting firm that helps middle market companies grow through mergers and acquisitions, is pleased to announce the promotion of Matthew (Matt) Craft to Vice President. In his new position as Vice President, Matt will […]
When contacting an owner about acquisitions, don’t be surprised to hear “no.” Most owners, when asked about selling their “not-for-sale” business will automatically refuse simply because it’s unexpected. Remember, for an owner focused on running the day-to-day operations of his business, this offer is coming out of the blue. There are, of course, a number of […]