Pandemic Mayhem

The M&A Journal interviewed Michael O'Bryan about his outlook for the M&A market in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Uncertainty is the enemy of M&A, and now, with the spread of the coronavirus and the impact of the pandemic - and questions on the future impact of the pandemic - on people, companies and the economy, so many things are happening that it's hard for principals to focus on deals and come together on terms," Michael said. "Market values for some companies have risen from the initial drops, but I would expect that, for some companies, the deals getting done are going to be at a cheaper price than they would have been before all this trouble. That's been reflected in some deals signed earlier in the year being renegotiated. Companies are considering different kinds of deals, including stock combinations, sales of assets, and various kinds of investments."