2020 Year in Review – a Pandemic, a Trade-War, and All-Time Highs

28.1.2021

Financial Markets Overview

2020 proved to be a year of challenges (to say the least!!!). COVID, drought & bushfires, trade wars and Australia’s first economic recession in 29 years – 2020 had it all.

The March Quarter was the most volatile trading period in history, with financial markets reaching all-time highs in February 2020 before falling by over 40% with some of the biggest daily losses in history. The market rallied in the following Quarters as market sentiment strengthened, lifted by historically low interest rates and trillions of dollars in global government stimulus. At the close of the calendar year the All-Country World Index had risen 14.3%, although the ASX200 closed down 1.5%.

M&A Environment

As businesses looked to consolidate and strengthen balance sheets in March, M&A markets came to a grinding halt. However, investor sentiment quickly rebounded as the RBA slashed the cash rate to 0.1% and the Federal Government delivered $213 billion in stimulus packages.

Global M&A activity for the year fell to US$377 billion in the March quarter from US$800 billion in the previous quarter. This rebounded to over US$1,200 billion in the December Quarter, the highest transaction value Quarter since the Global Financial Crisis.

Against this backdrop of volatility, InterFinancial acted as lead advisor on eight transactions across 2020. All but one of these closed during COVID, and six closed in the second half of the year.

Outlook for 2021

2021 has started with a bang, with no signs of M&A activity slowing down. Low interest rates, a new boss in the White House, and the hope of COVID vaccinations easing travel restrictions are all fuelling investor confidence.

We wish all of our clients and colleagues a prosperous year, and look forward to announcing more successful transactions in the coming months.

InterFinancial’s Transactions – 2020 in Review

31.3.2025

Sector dashboards March 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
Solar panels and wind turbines in the middle of a field
31.3.2025

Towards net zero: Four key considerations for organisations on a decarbonisation journey

Strong geo-political, social and economic forces are influencing the pace of global investment in decarbonisation. Driven by economic factors, the Trump administration’s stance to curb action on climate change stands at one end of the decarbonisation investment approach, whereas other countries in Europe and Asia Pacific (including Australia) recognise they are behind in their quest […]

Read more
31.3.2025

Building an M&A dream team – What you need to know

As the old saying goes, there’s no I in team. But there is an M&A!  One of the most crucial factors determining the success (or otherwise) of a business sale or acquisition is selecting the right team. Transactions are hard work and typically involve a set of skills that are unfamiliar to a business owner. […]

Read more
31.3.2025

Employee Q&A: Brad Shaw

From mining sites to boardrooms, Brad’s career has spanned various industries, continents and more air miles than he can count. As InterFinancial’s CEO, he’s led multiple businesses through growth, change, and the curveballs – always with a strategic eye on what’s next.   With his 25+ years of experience, Brad has seen what works (and what […]

Read more
Businessman putting money on stack of coins with tree on top of it
26.2.2025

Is your business investment ready? How to raise enterprise value from an investor’s lens.

Working ON your business is just as important as working IN your business.   For many business owners, their business is their primary asset. But like with any asset, it requires regular maintenance to ensure it remains competitive, profitable, and most importantly, investment ready.   It’s important to consider the following key questions towards becoming investor ready:  […]

Read more
26.2.2025

Sector dashboards February 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
29.1.2025

Sector dashboards January 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
29.1.2025

Done deal? Why many Mergers and Acquisitions miss the mark

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) are often seen as a golden ticket for businesses aiming to expand, achieve economies of scale, or diversify. Yet business history is littered with stories of failed acquisitions that have eroded value rather than enhanced it. Look no further than Catch.com, which is still in the news cycle. Why? Below are […]

Read more
29.1.2025

Employee Q&A: Lucy Clarke

We’re excited to dive into a round of Q&A with Lucy Clarke, a talented and passionate M&A Associate at InterFinancial. In this post, Lucy shares her insights on the daily grind, the rewarding aspects of her role, and the challenges she overcomes. Join us as we explore what it’s like to be an M&A professional […]

Read more