Insights > Intralinks Predicts Continued M&A Growth

Intralinks Predicts Continued M&A Growth

From time to time, we like to take a look at various indices as predictors of pending M&A activity over the next year or more. One of the most reliable that we have used throughout the years is the Intralinks Deal Flow Predictor (DFP).

Intralinks is in a unique position to gauge future deal activity since they are a global technology provider of secure enterprise content collaboration solutions. One area of specialization that they provide is creating and managing virtual data rooms (VDRs) for M&A firms.

For several years, they have created the DFP based on what they are seeing on their network in terms of VDR activity. They keep the information regarding who is creating the VDR confidential, but they use the activity to predict future M&A trends. And their DFP has proven to be very accurate:

Decision Economics’ analysis showed that our prediction model has a very high level of statistical significance, with a more than 99.9 percent probability that the Intralinks Deal Flow Predictor is a statistically significant six-month predictive indicator of announced deal data, as subsequently reported by Thomson Reuters.

A few months ago, we looked at their first quarter 2017 predictor where Intralinks stated, “Announced deals in Q1 2017 will be around 5 percent higher than in Q1 2016.” So it was with great anticipation that I reviewed their 2nd quarter DFP release that has continued to show predicted M&A growth for the next six months:

The negative sentiment that appeared to weigh on dealmaking in the first half of last year caused by concerns over sluggish global economic growth, financial market volatility, a sharp decline in global equity markets at the start of 2016, the UK EU membership referendum and the upcoming US presidential election – appears to have been trumped in the second half of 2016 by the return of confidence in the M&A market.
The global number of announced M&A deals in 1H 2017 will increase by around 6% YoY, with a range between 3 percent and 10 percent.

We are actually predicting an even larger increase in deal making activity in 2017 based on the buyer activity and interest we have seen so far this year. Discussions we have had during the first half of this year indicate that dealmakers are quite bullish on their plans for this year and beyond.

In fact, we are on pace to have another record year. Through the first few months of this year our deal closings are up 36% compared to 2016 and our dual signed LOIs (letters of intent) are likewise up over 10% when compared to the same timeframe last year.

Dual signed LOIs are a key indicator because they typically result in closed deals since both seller and buyer have “signed off” on the initial draft of the purchase agreement. With closed deals up significantly and pending transactions likewise showing improvement, it is safe to say that buyers have a growing interest in doing deals.

And, according to Intralinks, there are several compelling trends that are driving this demand for acquisitions:

Low and below-trend economic growth in many advanced and emerging economies (therefore hard for companies to grow revenues and profits organically).
Very low inflation/deflation (therefore hard for companies to raise prices for their goods and services organically).
Historically low interest rates (therefore debt financing for acquisitions is cheap and readily available).

We concur with Interlinks in this analysis. These factors, coupled with the significant cash on corporate balance sheets and capital in play with equity firms, are converging to make this an optimal seller’s market for those owners who are both personally and professionally prepared to exit, either partially or wholly, via an exit event.

But the reality is you don’t decide today to sell your company tomorrow. It is a process that begins with the formulation of the reality that eventually your legacy will need to be transferred to a new owner. Either to family members (not optimal in most cases), employees (often even less optimal) or to a third party. Under any of these scenarios, the most important concept is planning. Without planning and preparation, you may fall into the trap far too many business owners find themselves in: Making a transition when circumstances force you to, not when the market timing is optimal, as it is now.

A great way to start your planning is to attend a Generational Equity exit planning conference. These are no-obligation, complimentary and are led by seasoned M&A professionals, many of whom have exited their businesses and can tell you real world stories of how (and how not) to do it. To learn more, call me at 972-232-1125 or email me at [email protected]. Here are some links that you might find helpful as well:

By Carl Doerksen, Director of Corporate Development at Generational Equity.

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