Skyline Advisors Issues Second Quarter 2019 Capital Markets Review: Midwest Edition

Skyline Advisors has released its Capital Markets Review: Midwest Edition for the second quarter of 2019. The report details developments on the broader economy, public markets, valuations, as well as activity and trends for mergers and acquisitions, private equity deals, and venture capital deals, both at national and Midwest levels. Key highlights within the report include:

• Overall valuation multiples increased as competition for quality deals continued to increase, but many industries started to see valuation multiples decline or remain flat
• Second quarter M&A activity in the US fell significantly from the first quarter – value down nearly 39% and volume down 17%
• US private equity activity increased on both value and volume bases from the first quarter, reaching $160 billion across 2,142 deals
• Venture capital had its best quarter on record for exits, as the second quarter recorded an astounding $138 billion in exit value (nearly half of which was accounted for by Uber’s IPO), while the first half totaled $189 billion
• Midwest VC activity slowed, as the second quarter represented the lowest total investment value, at $67 million, since the second quarter of 2012
• The economy showed mixed results - while unemployment strengthened during the quarter, GDP growth slowed, the yield curve inverted further, and the Midwest rural economy slipped below growth neutral
• Public markets performed well in Q2, with major indices recording modest gains. Additionally, the value of initial public offerings recorded a significant jump during the quarter

You can access the full report here. As always, contact our team if you have any questions or would like to learn more about capital markets activity within your region or industry.