OUTLOOK & ANALYSIS

M&A Surges Ahead Despite COVID Crisis

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https://cpatrendlines.com/2020/06/10/ma-surges-ahead-despite-covid-crisis/But key trends, logistics, and legalities are changing.

By R. Peter Fontaine

Given the enormous disruptive effect of the COVID-19 crisis, it is surprising that mergers and acquisitions are still very much near the top of the accounting firm agenda.

MORE on CPA FIRM M&A: New Rules: Covid Shifts M&A Landscape | Merging in Sellers: What You Need to Know | Five Keys to Successfully Selling a CPA Firm | Mergers: What Could Go Wrong? | 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying an Accounting Practice | Buyers Name 20 Big Merger Turnoffs | Why Firms Merge: Hint, It’s Not for the Clients | Five Key Decisions for Your Exit Strategy

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In a word, sellers want to sell – and – buyers want to buy. We will examine the reasons we have seen that contribute to the continued strength of acquisitions; as well as the changes and challenges confronting buyers and sellers in a COVID world. READ MORE →

COVID Crushes CPA Business Outlook

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Top three takeaways: Hiring outlook for next 12 months is bleak. 92 percent of businesses report being negatively impacted by pandemic. Liquidity emerges as a top concern.

The CPA Outlook Index falls 50 percent since last quarter and now stands at 38, its lowest level since early 2009. (AICPA)

via AICPA

Battered by repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, business executives hold the most pessimistic view of the U.S. economy since the end of 2011, when the nation was still emerging from the lingering impact of the Great Recession, according to the second-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey.

The CPA Outlook Index—a comprehensive gauge of executive sentiment within the AICPA survey— fell 50 percent since last quarter and now stands at 38, its lowest level since early 2009.

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