Led by the NYSE Group's recent stock offering, activity in the securities exchange market continues to heat up. Recently, the NYSE Group, who after its stock offering has a war chest of between $1-2 billion, announced it was in talks with other exchange groups regarding....

When potential buyers look at your company, they view the value of your business through the dual lenses of perceived opportunity and perceived risk. As discussed in the March Viewpoint, understanding the value-creation factors that make up the buyer mindset assists you in building value into your company. In essence, knowing what factors drive the decision making of potential buyers gives you a blueprint of how to build the most valuable company possible.

The improving labor market has had a beneficial effect on the staffing industry. Shares of staffing companies have been on the rise after employment services company Manpower Inc. released better than expected first-quarter net earnings and an analyst predicted Monster Worldwide Inc. would post strong first-quarter results. Coupled with public company performance...

When two companies operate in the same market space, what makes one company more valuable than another? Why does one company sell for a multiple on revenues while another fetches a multiple on earnings? Most importantly, how can you be sure you are focusing your efforts and resources on the factors that will result in your business being courted by multiple buyers and receiving top dollar?

Fresh off of a five day rally, the market has been treading water in anticipation of Ben Bernanke’s speaking engagement at the Economic Club of New York Monday night. Although Bernanke is not expected to reveal much ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting, his comments regarding the yield curve and monetary policy will be eagerly....