Darden Home - University of Virginia

Useful M&A Web Sites

The following sites illustrate the kinds of learning one can obtain about M&A from the world wide web. These are offered in the spirit of enlarging the M&A practitioner's analysis and business judgment. Though this is not an exhaustive list, these sites can provide a useful springboard to the resources of the larger web. While I believe the sources are reliable, the visitor must treat all data and resources obtained from them with the usual caution. The topic areas listed here are:

  • Essential data sources in M&A.
  • Deal search resources.
  • Publications and information about M&A intermediaries and other players.
  • Valuation analysis.
Essential data sources in M&A
  • www.secdata.com 
    This is the premier commercial database for research in M&A.
  • www.sec.gov 
    This site allows visitors to download free copies of filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. An invaluable source of information for the M&A researcher.
  • www.sedar.com
    Official site that provides access to most public securities documents and information filed by public companies and investment funds with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) in the SEDAR filing system.
  • www.disclosure.com 
    This commercial sources provides real-time and historical data on corporations generally, and with special sections on M&A.
  • www.emap.com/cso/databank/ 
    This data source provided by the Central Statistical Office in the United Kingdom offers historical information on acquisitions and other aspects of corporate financial performance.
  • donedeals.nvst.com/
    This 'done deals" database claims to offer the only comprehensive source of information on mid-market transactions, varying between $1 million and $100 million in size. Subscription required.
  • www.cob.ohio-state.edu 
    See the "Financial Data Finder" at this website for the Finance Department at the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University. This is an outstanding resource.
  • www.1jump.com 
    Permits the researcher to "jump" to specific websites for companies-it minimizes search costs to get to a specific site.
  • www.411stocks.com 
    Provides company-specific information, including beta estimates.
  • www.hoovers.com
    A commercial source for company information, news, and web links.
  • www.edgarscan.tc.pw.com 
    This site permits the visitor to download the SEC's EDGAR files into HTML and Excel spreadsheet formats.
  • www.bloomberg.com 
    The leading source for real-time financial markets news and information.
  • www.econmagic.com 
    www.finweb.com/databases.htm 
    Other useful links to databases in finance and economics.
  • www.newspage.com 
    www.newshound.com 
    The websites of clipping services that can help you follow developments in certain industries, and in M&A. Clipping services can assist the deal professional to Alisten to markets.
  • www.theocc.com/market/infomemos/info_memos_form.jsp
    Source of news about tender offers and other corporate events.
Deal search resources Publications and information about M&A intermediaries and other players
  • www.csfb.com 
    www.ml.com 
    The websites of First Boston, and Merrill Lynch, respectively. These contain interesting information on corporate finance generally, and M&A.
  • www.privateequity.com 
    www.envista.com 
    www.vcworld.com 
    Websites for publications about venture capital and private equity.
  • www.nceo.org 
    Website about employee stock ownership.
  • www.takeoverstockreport.com/
    Website for Takeover Stock Report, providing information about possible targets, and developments in announced deals. Expensive.
  • www.hlhz.com 
    Website for Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, specialty investment banking firm, and publisher of the Mergerstat newsletter, containing summaries of the current deal environment.
  • www.berkshirehathaway.com 
    Warren Buffett's website. Source of his entertaining and wise annual report letters.
  • www.japonica.com 
    Website of Japonica Partners, an "active" investment group. Contains interesting forums on M&A-related topics.
  • www.lens-inc.com
    Website for LENS Inc., which describes itself as "an $80 million investment firm that uses shareholder activism to increase the value of portfolio companies."
  • www.assetalt.com 
    Website for Asset alternatives Inc., publisher of some influential newsletters, including The Private Equity analyst, Venture Capital & Health Care, and the Latin American Private Equity Analyst.
  • www.arcchart.com 
    Website for ARCchart, an analytical firm that gives detailed linkages among firms, including equity interests, joint venture commitments, etc. Their practice is currently concentrated in telecommunications, multimedia, and information technology.
  • www.jpmorgan.com 
    This is the website of J.P. Morgan. It contains interesting pages on emerging markets, and the path breaking Value At Risk (a.k.a. ARiskMetrics@) measure of exposure to currency volatility.
  • www.ifc.org 
    Website for International Finance Corporation of the World Bank. Source of good information on emerging markets, useful in cross-border valuation.
Valuation analysis