Mergers and acquisitions advisors 'in demand' as takeovers rise
Recent takeover activity has significantly increased
24 August 2010
More mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisors could be required to deal with the growing numbers of takeovers.
Last week BHP Billiton acquired Canada's PotashCorp for $39 billion (£25.3 billion) and Intel purchased software giant McAfee for $8 billion (£5.1 billion) in the strongest seven day period for the M&A market this year.
There are currently 20 per cent more deals taking place this year than in 2009 following the flurry of activity in July and August.
Scott Bok, chief executive of global investment firm Greenhill, claimed any deals made over the coming months will highlight the strength of the sector.
"The question is whether this is a real turn or just another aberrational couple of
weeks," he told the Financial Times.
The rise in takeover deals could be down to the cost cutting measures implemented by companies following the recession, according to Ewen Stewart, head of research at Arden Partners.
He wrote in the Daily Mail that these initiatives helped to preserve profitability while also helping to reduce debt levels.