Mergers, Acquisition Activity Plunges: A declining junk...
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Mergers, Acquisition Activity Plunges: A declining junk bond market helped push U.S. merger and acquisition activity down almost one-third in the first four months of this year, compared to 1989, according to data compiled by IDD Information Services. So far this year, 512 U.S. firms have been targeted for acquisition, down from 590 in 1989. The value of the deals slipped 16.6% to $79.2 billion, down from $95 billion, IDD said. Merger and acquisition activity in the United States droped 31.2% from a year ago, IDD said. Leveraged buyouts also decreased so far this year by 57.1% to 30 deals totaling $5.1 billion, compared to 70 deals worth $15.4 billion for the first four months of 1989, IDD said.
