KPMG Predicts Modest Uptick in Global Mergers and Acquisitions

With the new year 2010 just open, the forecasts for the year ahead have started.

First out is KPMG’s Global MA Predictor which estimates that M&A appetite and capacity will move up in the next 12 months, with increased forward PE ratios from a year ago pointing to a higher deal-making appetite. Furthermore, the capacity to do deals is heightened by a decline in net debt to EBITDA ratios from earlier levels....

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Shocking Accounting Scandal at Huron Consulting Group

Just after market close on Friday July 31st, 2009, Huron Consulting Group dropped a bombshell on investors by announcing an intention to restate its 2006 to 2009 financial statements due to incorrect accounting of “non-cash charges relating to how payments received by the sellers of certain acquired businesses were subsequently redistributed among themselves and to other select Huron employees”. Shell shocked investors immediately sold HURN stock, causing the stock to fall by an astounding 70% from close of market on Friday at $45 to open at a paltry $12 per share at open of market on Monday August 3rd, 2009, and leading to an instant shareholder value disappearance of almost $700 million...

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KPMG Predicts Slowdown in Global Mergers and Acquisitions in 2008

KPMG's Global M&A Predictor anticipates that the global deal environment will likely deteriorate into the second half of 2008, with both deal value and volume with forward-looking corporate valuations down 10% compared to just 6 months ago. The firm’s predictor shows a decrease in both ‘appetite’ (forward valuations) and ‘capacity’ (estimated net debt to EBITDA) for M&A activity...

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KPMG Finds Chemical Mergers On the Upswing

KPMG recently released a report on global Chemicals M&A activity, with a particular emphasis on Europe. World chemicals sales in 2005 were a whopping EUR 1,476 billion, with the EU accounting for 30% of this total. 13 of the top 30 companies in the world, accounting for 15% of chemicals sales have HQs in Europe...

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