64% The proportion of executives polled at a recent Standard & Poor’s corporate credit conference who said that they expected shareholder pressure on US companies to increase in 2006. “Shareholder pressure on companies to recapitalize, increase dividends, buy back shares or engage in mergers and acquisitions has become more common in 2005,” said S&P managing director Nicholas Riccio. “Clearly, most of those polled expect this trend to intensify next year, which may put additional pressure on credit quality.” The poll canvassed the opinions of 131 buy-side, sell-side and corporate executives.
27,168 The number of mergers and acquisitions announced in 2005, with a value of $2.6 trillion
23,719 The number of mergers and acquisitions announced in 2004, with a value of $1.8 trillion