M&A ACTIVITY ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE IN 2011

For 2011, a continued weak economic environment is anticipated to make M&A an appealing way to purchase growth through acquisitions. Moreover, as the frozen credit markets confronting would-be purchasers over the past 2 years continue to thaw, more companies will have access to financing for small- to medium-sized transactions.  Finally, the stock market's recent rally, coupled with tendency of companies to hold on to their cash in uncertain economic climes, means that many potential purchasers should also have ample cash on hand to engage in M&A activity.