Paris, 9 November 2007. In a poll taken this morning at the M&A International Inc (MAI), Mid-Market Forum, 54% of MAI’s clients and senior bankers predict that the credit crunch will have an impact on global merger and acquisition activity in 2008.  This represents a slight increase in the number of firms currently witnessing and monitoring the impact of the credit crunch in their regions of the world.  While the mood of participants in the meeting was cautious, all agreed that middle market deal flow remains robust as over 1,000 meetings took place at the Mid Market Forum with companies from around the world looking for advice from the MAI firms.  The poll revealed that 61% of Forum participants predicted that the technology industry will continue to be the leading sector for M&A in 2008 with both the energy and engineering/manufacturing sectors having significant deal flow as well.         

Earlier this week, MAI released the results of a larger survey conducted last month. The survey measured the impact of the credit crunch and whether or not it would be the same in every region and every industry around the world.  The results showed that the tightening of credit is having a significant impact on transactions valued greater than $250 million, and much less impact on most mid-market transactions. 

“The middle-market has not yet been directly impacted by the tightening credit,” said Murray Beach, president of M&A International Inc.
“Transactions are still getting done at good prices.  It is the large deals that have been thrown off their tracks.  We do see that the atmosphere has become more cautious, but the outlook for market is still positive.”

The survey in full is available at www.mergers.net.

About M&A International Inc.

M&A International Inc. is the world’s leading alliance of mid-market merger & acquisition specialists with over 400 professionals in 42 member firms in 38 countries.  In 2006, our members closed over 290 deals worth more than $17.5 billion, of which 88 were cross-border.  www.mergers.net

For more information about the M&A International Inc. Q3 Survey on the International Debt Market Turmoil Survey or to speak with Murray Beach, president of M&A International Inc., please contact Candace Lyons at (781) 534-4861 or Aylin Ugurlu at +49 176 238 377 95. 

Contact:
Candace Lyons, (781) 534-4861 or
Aylin Ugurlu, +49 176 238 377 95