M&A Environment in 2012

Market

Uncertainty—though not at the same levels as the last few years—still rules the day. According to The Grant Thornton International Business Report, a Q3 2011 survey indicated the United States is suffering from a Business Optimism outlook of 8 percent. Essentially, this means that more business owners in the United States were pessimistic than optimistic in their outlook for the next 12 months. We anticipate that this lack of confidence in the U.S. will lead to increased M&A activity as U.S.-based firms reach into non-U.S. markets for market share and growth not available in a sluggish domestic market.