One way to track aggregate changes in your industry is through merger and acquisition announcements. M&A announcements inform of market shifts, changes in stock values and accretion or dilutions of certain economic sectors. They can also alert you to how the market will eventually affect the valuation of your own company's stock.
If you are considering engineering your own merger or acquisition, announcements of mergers and acquisitions provide good schematics of the various forms of financing, tax accounting, and changes in governance that may benefit (or hurt) you. Also consult M&A league tables to analyze industry merger and acquisition rankings by deal values and transaction volume. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Find reliable sources with timely updates on the latest merger and acquisitions.
2. If you are considering an M&A transaction, consult with advisers to find out what precedes and follows business merger announcements.
3. Consider taking advantage of services and desktop solutions that provide comprehensive M&A data and business acquisition announcements.
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Get business acquisition announcements and other M&A news through reliable resources
Find premier resources that provide you with comprehensive information and analysis on the latest mergers and acquisitions news. You have the option to subscribe to reliable financial periodicals or join financial information sites. Either way, you will be informed on the latest merger and acquisition announcements.
I recommend: Of course, the most reliable resource of up-to-the-minute financial news, including mergers and acquisitions announcements, is
The Wall Street Journal. The online version provides many premiums, including
MarketWatch, which tracks mergers and acquisitions as well as other market news on many major industries. The New York Times
DealBook is a respected chronicler of the latest merger and acquisitions news. Another source is the monthly periodical,
Mergers and Acquisitions: The Dealmaker's Journal, which provides comprehensive information on M&As that includes pricing and valuation; accounting and taxes; deal structuring and acquisition strategies; post-merger integration; and risk management. Its M&A Roundup provides in-depth analysis on the latest deals and developments as well. Purchase an annual subscription.
Acquisitions Monthly offers another M&A Roundup that provides monthly reviews on leading market transactions.
Consult with experts to help you understand the ramifications of business merger announcements
Announcing a merger or acquisition is a strategic move that may help or harm your business. Stocks often flounder if an announcement is met with a lukewarm reception by the market. A consultant can tell you what to anticipate pre- and post-announcement, and especially whether your company is ready to make that move.
I recommend: Conversion Services International, Inc., assists you in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including readiness assessment as well as post-integration optimization.
Empire State Consultants provide strategic guidance and assessment for companies considering mergers or acquisitions. They take you through the first-year integration as well.
Find desktop solutions and databases that provide M&A data, including M&A announcements
Check out desktop solutions that provide you with detailed M&A information, including the latest deals as well as rumors of possible announcements. They provide email alerts that track progress of specific deals and rumors. Also, you can find online databases that analyze M&A transactions in various industries.
I recommend: Zephyr provides more than 450,000 business transaction deals and rumors, including M&As. The desktop solution also helps valuate more than 33 million public and hard-to-find companies worldwide. Its email alert system tracks daily progress on deals and rumors.
M&A Insight offers subscriptions to several databases on mergers and acquisitions that track Mid-Cap and Large-Cap transaction details. Transactions are updated weekly.