FOUNDERS' TOOLBOX

摘要

On the heels of a sizzling IPO market, there's more hope for entrepreneurial paydays: a robust M&A market for U.S. deals under $1 billion. As of Dec. 17 there were 2,410 deals, valued at $287 billion-flat compared with the same period a year earlier but higher prices for 9% fewer acquisitions and a larger portion of activity worldwide. Winners: energy and real estate. Next year looks even better, says Thomson Reuters analyst Matthew Toole, who compiled the numbers.