Technology M&A is at a post dotcom high, with one firm predicting approximately 4000 deals valued at $248B during 2006. More here. We see it from our vantage point here. One of the things we are increasingly asked to do is to provide an analysis of software content and license for companies that are candidates for acquisition.

Why so many? Its not too hard to think of a number of reasons

- first, the economy has recovered and firms have currency in the form of higher stock prices to go shopping. But beyond that, I can think of a few more...smaller firms increasingly see acquisition as a good outcome, as compared with a public offering. Seems to me there is a lot less fascination with the idea of going public with all that implies in this era of sarbox etc

- the rate of new company formation started back up a couple of years ago. so the shelves are restocked with available companies

- private equity

- I think we're getting back to acquistion as a staffing strategy in a time of tight hiring

there are certainly others...but regardless of reason, it is keeping our PS guys very busy these days.