Berkery Noyes Research Shows 1st Half 2009 Software Merger & Acquisition Trends -...

Berkery Noyes Research Shows 1st Half 2009 Software Merger & Acquisition
Trends - Oracle Seizing the Moment 'Buy Low - Grow Vertically & Horizontally?'

NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with broad based M&A trends, deal
activity in the Software Industry contracted in the 1st Half of 2009 from
levels in the same period of last year. However, the rate of contraction has
not been nearly as dramatic as in other Information Industry segments. Total
transaction volume in the 1st Half of 2009 decreased by a modest 10% over the
1st Half of 2008, from 374 to 336 deals. Total transaction value in the 1st
Half of 2009 decreased by 28% over the 1st Half of 2008, from $24.46 billion
to $17.78 billion.

Financial buyers were sidelined during the 1st Half 2009, with the majority of
transactions - 95% by volume and 85% by value - being strategically motivated.
This ratio is consistent with trends shown in the 1st Half of 2008. On a
more positive note, there are subtle signs that private equity and other
financial buyers may be getting back in the game. The proportion of
financially motivated transactions increased during the 1st Half, to 51 deals
from the 49 announced during the 1st Half of 2008.

Last October, Oracle's Larry Ellison stated "If times are tough, there are
other opportunities... including making acquisitions that cost less."
Remaining committed to that strategy, Oracle lead software M&A activity in the
1st Half of 2009 with the largest number of announced deals: 5, and the
largest single transaction: the $5.64 billion pending acquisition of Sun
Microsystems.

To read the free four page report Click Here
(http://berkerynoyes.com/visit/BNC1stHalf09software.aspx)

Berkery Noyes provides skilled transaction management to publicly traded and
privately held businesses and private equity groups in both sell-side and
buy-side mergers and acquisitions. We have managed transactions ranging from
several million to more than four billion dollars in value, with an emphasis
on mid market transactions of $10 million to $500 million in enterprise value.

Our clients include private companies seeking a buyer, most of the major
international information companies, and private equity firms who use the
firm's expertise in locating, analyzing and negotiating with acquisition
candidates and in managing divestitures. The firm operates with a staff of
forty professionals serving the information industry.

For more information, visit www.berkerynoyes.com.

SOURCE Berkery, Noyes & Co., LLC

John Shea or James Berkery, +1-212-668-2022