Middle Market Weekly Outlook

On our radar this week: A PE stalwart offers a defense of private equity (it’s not just about cutting jobs). Meanwhile, a new survey indicates that up to half of middle market companies are looking to acquire companies in 2016.

Insights

• Half of middle-market companies are seeking acquisitions in 2016
• PE deals aren’t about slashing jobs
• PE fundraising falls 15% in 2015
• 4 reasons 2016 will be a strong year for M&A
• Healthcare expected to drive big M&A activity this year
• The cloud cures IT integration headaches
• The year of M&A, in comic form

Transactions

• ResCare buys Noble Care Corporation, with advisory services by VERTESS
• Questis raises $2.8 million
• Ness Technologies to sell TSG
• Edison Partners sells Telarix to Vista Equity
• Wafra Partners buys The Wellness Network

This Week in History… The Department of Justice tries to break up AT&T, filing an antitrust lawsuit. AT&T at the time owned engineering and manufacturing company Western Electric. As part of the settlement seven years later, AT&T agreed to limit its activities to the phone network and government jobs. (1949)