Mergers & Acquisitions Report and Outlook Q1 2025

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In 2024, the U.S. mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape experienced a notable resurgence, setting the stage for continued growth in 2025. Deal Volume and Value: Through September 2024, both private equity and corporate M&A deal volumes increased by 17% year-to-date compared to the prior year. Despite this uptick, momentum decelerated later in the year due to elevated uncertainty, in part related to the outcome of the presidential election. In 2025, consensus among analysts is for a ...

Mergers & Acquisitions Report and Outlook for Fall/Winter 2024

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
The first half of 2024 demonstrated a dynamic landscape for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the United States. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, including the interest rate environment and inflationary pressures, strategic consolidations gained momentum, driven by factors such as technological advancement, supply chain optimization, and market expansion. The first half of 2024 recorded ...
Mergers & Acquisitions Report

Increasing Merger & Acquisition Activity in this Election Year

A prevailing assumption is that a slowdown in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) occurs from October to December of an election year (and the following year depending on the party that is elected), but is that actually the case? Let’s first take a look at the last two previous election cycles...

Mergers & Acquisitions Report, News and Outlook for Q1 2024

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In the central region of the United States, M&A activity has remained robust, but across the broader United States, activity was muted in the first half of 2023, picking up through the remainder of the year. Looking ahead to 2024, two factors that will likely bring greater activity: i) stabilizing interest rates contribute to higher valuations and/or higher activity, and ii) consolidation trends in many industries. For the first time in ...
Q1 2024 Outlook Mergers Acquisitions

Mergers & Acquisitions Report, News and Outlook – ClearRidge Quarterly Update

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
2023 has been a stronger year for M&A than many were expecting. At the same time, different industry sectors have registered greater disparity in valuations, deal activity and deal volumes than we typically see. We continue to have strong demand for acquisitions and more clients bringing businesses to market than in a typical year. This may be isolated to Oklahoma, Texas, and the Midwest, but our feel for M&A is …
Mergers & Acquisitions Report

What’s next for Mergers & Acquisitions in 2023? ClearRidge M&A Trends and Outlook

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
While many anticipated a slowdown in 2023 with talks of a recession, we haven’t seen that in our central and southern region so far. At ClearRidge, we have had one of the busiest starts to any year since our founding fifteen years ago.  As we continue through 2023, we’re anticipating a further pickup in deal activity as there continue to be unprecedented levels of cash available for acquisitions, both from strategic and private acquirers.  Even in the event of a mild recession, company balance sheets are stronger now than when the US economy entered previous recessionary periods. With higher interest rates, companies have been committing more equity to ...
MergersAcquisitionsUpdate_03.02.2023

M&A Activity Diverges from Larger to Smaller Transactions in Q3 2022. What’s next for M&A in 2023?

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Global M&A activity plummeted in the third quarter of 2022, but that was attributable to a decline in large transformational industry transactions. Volatile equity markets (that comprise many public company strategic acquirers), rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have weighed on M&A activity. However, for ClearRidge and our private company transactions ($20 Million - $100 Million in revenues), transaction volume has been robust in …
M&A Activity Diverges from Larger to Smaller Transactions in Q3 2022

Second Half 2022 M&A Outlook Drivers: Tax changes, Inflation, Economy, Interest Rates, plus industry sector analysis

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
Business owners may be contemplating selling in any given year but are often motivated by a trigger event to take action and sell. As discussed in our industry sector outlook research, many business owners are feeling now may be a good time to sell. The pipeline continues to be strong for new businesses coming to market. Analysts expect 2023 to …

2022 M&A Outlook Drivers: Tax changes, Interest Rates, Recession Warnings plus industry sector analysis

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
M&A transaction activity increased throughout 2021 and continues in 2022. Many private company owners are now working to close a transaction before year-end 2022 and avoid the uncertainty of a new economic, inflationary and tax environment in 2023.  There are three key reasons business owners are …
2022 M&A Outlook

M&A transaction activity is booming. With President Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better plan, what’s the outlook for 2022?

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Merger Acquisition transaction activity has been increasing throughout 2021. Many business owners have been working to close a transaction before year-end and avoid the uncertainty of a new tax environment in 2022. President Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better (BBB) Act may soon become law, bringing tax reforms with it, but many of the plan’s initial tax proposals were …
M&A Outlook 2022

How will capital gains tax increases in 2022 impact M&A this year?

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Business acquisitions accelerate in response to President Biden’s plan to double the long-term capital gains tax rate for those at the top, from 20% to 40%. When you include the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) and some state income taxes, you could be looking at a 48% all-in capital gains tax rate by January 1, 2022. In this report, we discuss the biggest drivers of accelerated business sale activity, as well as analyze the outlook for eight industry sectors.

Mergers & Acquisitions Rebound after COVID and the Election – 2021 ClearRidge Outlook

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
The short story is good news. A rebound is expected in mergers and acquisitions in 2021, gaining momentum throughout the year. Top of mind in Spring is the COVID-19 recovery, vaccine rollout and return to a new normal. Second, we have the implications of a new political climate. Without bias to any political party, a divided congress may be the best …
Mergers Acquisitions 2021

Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook and COVID-19 Update

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Deal data is now available through the end of the second quarter 2020. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and offer an outlook for Fall 2020. We now have data to back up our initial insights into the COVID-19 impact on the U.S. economy, specific industry sectors and the outlook for M&A.  As forecast in ...

M&A Outlook 2020 and COVID-19 Update

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In the current COVID-19 climate, we are replacing our analysis of M&A data in the most recent quarter (January-March) with an outlook for M&A activity through the remainder of 2020. The first quarter of 2020 seems a long time ago and has minimal influence on the current M&A environment. Conversely, we now have initial insights into the COVID-19 impact on the U.S. economy, specific industry sectors and the outlook for M&A.

M&A Outlook for Spring 2020; Q4 2019 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and provides an outlook for Spring 2020. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,

M&A Outlook for Winter 2019/20; Q3 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and provides an outlook for Winter 2019/20. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,...

M&A Outlook for Fall 2019; Q2 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and provides an outlook for Fall 2019. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,...

M&A Outlook for Summer 2019; Q1 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and provides an outlook for Summer 2019. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,..

M&A Outlook for Spring 2019; Q4 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Uncategorized
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Spring 2019. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,..

M&A Outlook for Winter 2019; Q3 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Winter 2018. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,

M&A Outlook for Fall 2018 and Q2 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Fall 2018. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare, ...

M&A Outlook for Summer 2018 and Q1 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Summer 2018. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction and Engineering, Energy, Healthcare, ...

M&A Outlook for Spring 2018 and Q4 Transaction Report

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Journalrecord.com, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Spring 2018. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction and Engineering, Energy, Healthcare, ...

Mergers and Acquisitions Q3 2017 – Winter Outlook

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Journalrecord.com, Mergers & Acquisitions
We are in the fourth quarter of 2017 and deal data is now available through the end of the third quarter of 2017. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for the remaining ...

Mergers and Acquisitions Report Q2 and Fall 2017 Outlook

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
We are in the third quarter of 2017 and deal data is now available through the end of the second quarter of 2017. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for the remaining 2017 year.

Mergers and Acquisitions Report Full Year 2016 and 2017 Outlook

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
We are in the first quarter of 2017 and deal data is now available through the end of the fourth quarter for full year 2016. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for 2017. Analysis by Sector: i. Aerospace ii. Chemicals iii. Construction and Engineering iv. Energy: Oil and Gas v. Healthcare vi. Manufacturing vii. Transportation, Logistics, Distribution viii. Telecommunications

Mergers and Acquisitions Report Q3 and 2017 Outlook

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Journalrecord.com, Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for 2017. Before we consider each industry, let’s start with the overall economy and the most talked about Trump effect. The polls were wrong and the improbable happened. The economic outlook for 2017 has also changed as a result, mostly for the better. The Federal government is ...

Mergers & Acquisitions Report Q2 and Outlook for 2016

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for the remainder of 2016. The business mood and M&A environment remains positive and there continues to be demand from buyers for niche companies that are outperforming their competitors. There is no shortage of cash available for acquisitions; it is a matter of being able to

Mergers & Acquisitions Report Q1 and Outlook for 2016

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
We are in the second quarter of 2016 and deal data is now available through the end of the first quarter. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for the remainder of 2016.

Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook for 2016 and Q3 2015 Review

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
We are in the fourth quarter of 2015 and mergers and acquisitions data is now available through the end of the third quarter for business owners selling their company. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for 2016.

Mergers & Acquisitions: 2015 Outlook and Acquisition Activity through Q2 2015.

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review ClearRidge’s most active industry sectors and provide an outlook through Winter 2015. These 7 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region.

Mergers & Acquisitions: 2015 Outlook and Acquisition Activity through Q1 2015.

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review ClearRidge’s most active industry sectors and provide an outlook through Fall 2015. These 7 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region.

Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook for 2015 and Q4 2014 Review

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
In this report, we review ClearRidge’s most active industry sectors for mergers and acquisitions and provide an outlook through Spring 2015. These 7 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region