Engler Reflects on Third-Quarter Slowdown in M&A Activity

Turbulent markets and global crosswinds slowed merger activity in Minnesota and across the nation during the third quarter. Asked by Minneapolis Star Tribune for his assessment of the situation, Bruce Engler noted that the year-to-date numbers look different than the third quarter, with the deal values holding up better than the deal numbers.

Engler thinks the fourth quarter will "be OK, but it won't live up to expectations. I thought 2011 was going to be a big ramp-up of middle-market deals, but we're in kind of a holding pattern.''