Commerce
July 7, 2021
Less than 20 percent of executives expect the M&A deal activities to go down this year compared to last. Image courtesy of Kearney
By Nora Howe
As companies and investors look to reshape their business portfolios to match consumer sentiments and search for new growth opportunities, the mergers and acquisitions sector is becoming a seller’s market.
{"ct":"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","iv":"6411415de839bec75c013e5b7b2dda29","s":"91a065fd16c38220"}
Share your thoughts. Click here