Middle Market Weekly Outlook

Last week, the Wall Street Journal said 2015 could be the second-biggest year in history for M&A volume if it maintains its current pace. Deals inked across various industries have helped to drive global M&A volume past $1 trillion already this year, with healthcare, oil & gas and technology topping the charts. The Journal also reports this deal boom may not mean good news for all independent advisors.

Meanwhile, while many investors are enjoying an extended bull run, the private equity community remains keenly aware of the risks of investing at the top of the market.

Transactions:

• Brazos sells Healthcare Solutions to Catamaran Corp.
• Munch’s Supply Co. acquired by Rotunda Capital
• Balance Point Capital Partners invests in OnRamp Access
• New Mountain Capital takes Zep private
• Green Bar Packaging buys Midcon
• Riverstone invests in Meritage Midstream Services
• Clarkson Eyecare gets backing from FFL
• American Capital sells Mirion Technologies
• Tonka Bay backs NuSource
• Beringea invests in D3O
• Mansa Capital acquires Accreon
• Penfund provides loan to GoodLife

Events:

• Monday-Tuesday: ACG’s InterGrowth 2015  (Check out Axial’s Private Sushi & Sake Tasting at the event!)

Opinions:

• Where has all the private equity money gone?
• The private equity game is changing
• What’s holding technology M&A back?
• What are buyers paying for Main Street businesses?
• Capital superabundance is here to stay in PE
• Is PE distorting E&P Asset Prices?
• Can an outside CEO boost business?
• Big private equity managers rule the roost
• PE investors ride bull market to record exits
• Real estate, private equity help returns in 2014
• Chilly first quarter for IPO market
• Airport deals take flight abroad, stay grounded in the US
• M&A is back and its being fueled by mega transactions
• M&A is hot from Amazon to Alibaba to Rite Aid
• Who wins who loses in blockbuster M&A deals

This week in history… Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, or MGM is formed from the merger of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and the Louis B. Mayer Company (1924).