Introduction
Overall deal activity at $45 billion in the third quarter of 2022 was roughly unchanged from the second quarter but down sharply from $63 billion in the third quarter of 2021. In aggregate, deal activity through the first three quarters of 2022 was down significantly from deal activity in the first three quarters of 2021 as Fed actions to tighten monetary conditions this year have substantially raised the cost of capital and reduced the ability of firms to access the capital markets
Somewhat surprisingly multiples paid by both strategic and financial buyers held their ground and even increased in some size tranches as tightening financial conditions have not yet produced lower valuations as seen in the public markets. We’ll discuss this pricing resiliency and more in this edition of Mercer Capital’s Middle Market Transaction Update.
Also in This Issue
U.S. Deal Value & Volume
EBITDA Multiples
EBITDA Multiples by Buyer Type
U.S. Deal Volume by Industry
Debt Multiples
Number of Deals by Buyer Type