Middle Market Weekly Outlook

MarketWatch reports that global M&A activity is still on track for a blockbuster year, and 2015 has already surpassed 2014 in deal value. But the FT reports that deal volume continued to weaken in October.

Meanwhile, The Street reports that four out of five mid-market businesses expect to engage in M&A in the next three years — “a healthy outlook for investment banks and asset managers.”

Insights

• With all eyes (still) on the Fed, the NYT explores into when they’re likely to raise rates
• Business Insider predicts interest rates are going up in December
• PE firms get creative to spend growing cash piles
• Deal volume continued to weaken in October
• Mid-market companies report strong revenue growth
• Does PE fit into development finance?
• 81% of mid-market businesses are looking for M&A

Transactions

• All Web Leads agrees to acquire InsuranceQuotes.com
• Astra Capital Management agrees to acquire Logix Communications
• Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Co. acquires Examination Management Services, Inc.
• Summit invests in Mi9p
• Grand Crossing Capital Partners acquires stake in offshore fishing boat company Everglades
• Sverica Capital Management acquires Synoptek
• SCI Solutions buys Clarity Health

Forum Features

• These movies are a great way to kill time on work flights
• Secrets of highly successful BD professionals
• Q&A with PE and strategic acquirers

This Week in History… Monopoly is released by Parkers Brothers. Invented by Charles B. Darrow (who based it on a game called “the Landlord Game” patented thirty years earlier). Darrow started out by making the board game himself, but eventually looked for a manufacturer to produce it at greater scale. Parker Brothers turned down Darrow at first, before changing its mind and buying the game that would become the best-selling board game of all time. (1935)