Mergers & Acquisitions Report and Outlook for Fall/Winter 2024

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
Mergers & Acquisitions Report 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, 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 does Biden’s $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan Impact Mergers & Acquisitions in 2021?

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions
We expect to see a list of proposed tax increases for businesses and business owners under the new Administration, possibly reversing 2017 tax cuts. The first tax increases are expected to roll out in 2022, but there’s a possibility a capital gains tax increase for the wealthiest Americans could take effect even sooner. Biden has also proposed closing the current …

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

Surprises to selling a company in COVID-19

We had several acquisitions working in March when everything shut down and were not expecting to initiate any new engagements until late summer. However, we did start discussions on a new acquisition at the end of May. Surprisingly to us, the response was overwhelmingly positive and, as of last week, we have nine bona fide offers to acquire this company, five of which are at or above pre-COVID market value. How could this be?

How does a Presidential Election Impact the Sale of My Business?

What happens to M&A in the run up to the 2020 Presidential Election? In past election years with an incumbent President, there has been a slowdown in M&A activity from October into mid-November, but how about 2016? Most experts got it wrong. Prior to the 2016 Presidential election, …

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.

Progressive Supply Acquired by DistributionNOW (NYSE:DNOW)

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
Progressive Supply (Pipe Distribution). ClearRidge has represented and closed two exceptional Oklahoma deals in the past month, in each case delivering a well-capitalized buyer and a robust valuation and deal terms.

Mergers & Acquisitions for Q3 2014 and Outlook through 2015

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
ClearRidge Report: Mergers & Acquisitions for Q3 2014 and 2015 Outlook. In this report, we review our most active industry sectors. These 7 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region.

Mergers & Acquisitions for Q2 2014 and Outlook through 2014

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
ClearRidge Report: Mergers & Acquisitions for Q2 2014 and Outlook through 2014. In this report, we review our most active industry sectors. These 8 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in the Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region. Click "More" to read the the full article.

Mergers & Acquisitions for Q1 2014 and Outlook through Fall 2014

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
ClearRidge Report: Mergers & Acquisitions for Q1 2014 and Outlook through Fall 2014. In this report, we review our most active industry sectors. These 8 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in the Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region. Click "More" to read the the full article.

Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook through Summer 2014 and Full Year 2013 Review

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
ClearRidge Report: Mergers & Acquisitions for Full Year 2013 and Outlook through Summer 2014. In this report, we review our most active industry sectors. These 8 industries are also among the most active sectors that drive M&A Activity in the Oklahoma and the Southern Midwest region. Click "More" to read the the full article.

How long does a Private Equity Group wait before selling your Company again?

Most people think of a private equity holding period as between 3 and 5 years, which could cause a significant and legitimate concern among business owners. However, there is no hard rule to apply to this asset class and to make a determination whether or not to consider a PEG as a prospective buyer based upon the median hold period, would be to make a one-dimensional decision.

Ready to sell your business in 2012? NOT SO FAST.

Posted by Matthew Bristow in Mergers & Acquisitions
March 16, 2012 - Ready to sell your business in 2012? NOT SO FAST. If you are considering selling your business in 2012, you need to consider the full sale process, from start to finish. Critical pre-sale due diligence - common mistakes and potential consequences.

When should you sign a Letter of Intent – Business Buyer vs. Business Seller?

One purpose of a LOI is to document a mutual agreement between the buyer and seller on the major points of the purchase and sale of a business. With this in mind, a LOI is often signed much too early in the process. There is an understandable eagerness if you are selling a business to receive a Letter of Intent from a prospective buyer as early as possible. In some cases, business owners are even advised that they should request a LOI in order to learn price and terms from the prospective buyer.