Large Deal Activity Will Be Hardest Hit in 2008 While Middle Market M&A Activity to Remain Steady, Says Piper Jaffray M&A Report

January 3 - PRNewswire - Credit market worries will continue to weigh on the U.S. M&A market through at the least the first half of 2008, especially with regard to large buyouts, according to a report recently released by the Piper Jaffray M&A team. The report titled, "Mergers & Acquisitions Insights: Middle Market M&A Outlook 2008," analyzes M&A activity and trends in the middle market.

Despite the credit crunch, the middle market has remained active as the total deal volume is only off 4 percent through the first nine months of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006*. While Piper Jaffray believes M&A activity in 2008 will cool from the previous year, it will remain well above the recessionary levels seen in 2002 due to the strength of the global economy. The report indicates large deal activity will likely be the hardest hit, as the "mega-buyouts" will have difficulty securing financing in the first half of the year. Read More.