Middle Market Weekly Outlook

As the first month of 2016 drew to a close, the market had its eye on early indications of how this year would stack up to a banner year for M&A in 2015. So far volatility has been the characteristic that seems to be shaping the 2016 deal environment. CNBC reports on one opinion of the opportunities for investors this year, calling for optimism towards the healthcare, technology, government contracting and general manufacturing sectors as well as a meaningful uptick in energy (finally!).

Insights

• 2016 isn’t looking good for private equity returns
• College endowments consider private equity
• PE firms look to public markets for deals
• Is Chicago the next center for M&A?
• Amongst companies, optimism for M&A is waning
• The deals just keep on coming
• 100 CFOs of oil companies call for uptick in sector activity
• Are we experiencing a pause in M&A?
• A quick update on potential policy changes for M&A brokers
• The hottest sectors for M&A in 2016 are…

Transactions

• Riverside acquires OCS HR
• Chobani rejects offer from PepsiCo
• May River Capital acquires Hunt Valve
• Silver Lake Partners and Thoma Bravo complete buyout of SolarWinds
• Johnson Electric acquires AML Development
• Antares backs Liberty Hall’s acquisition of AIM Aerospace
• MidOcean sells portfolio company Allant
• The Chicago Stock Exchange will sell to Chinese investor
• Rock Hill exits Tideland Signal Corp.
• Linsalata Capital Partners makes majority investment in H.H. Franchising Systems
• Rowmark acquires Bur-Lane
• Arlington Capital picks up some robots
• AUA buys Raymundos Food Group
• Neuberger Berman sells Capital Analytics
• HIG sells Media Properties Holdings
• Providence Equity backs Skybox Security