In the article “Minnesota companies made deals in a hurry at the start of the year, then the virus hit,” the StarTribune reports on mergers and acquisitions activity in Minnesota before and after the COVID-19 pandemic started.
According to data cited by the publication, transactions in February 2020 were up in volume by 11% from a year earlier, but deal-making activity slowed as the coronavirus spread across the U.S.
The StarTribune turned to mergers and acquisitions partner Bruce Engler for his insight and outlook on deal activity since the start of the pandemic.
Engler told the publication that he predicts that deal making will recover strongly when the coronavirus is brought under control.
“Healthy strategic buyers have cash to spend and are desperate for growth,” Engler said. “Private-equity buyers have lots of cash, too. While most were distracted managing their portfolio companies through the initial shock of COVID-19 … they are ready to move on deals again.”