IMAP Ranks in Top Five for Completed M&A Transactions in Emerging Markets

Global Network of M&A Advisers Sees Growing Demand for Middle Market M&A Transactions in Eastern Europe, the Nordic Region and Latin America


SARASOTA, FL--(Marketwire - November 9, 2009) - IMAP, Inc., an exclusive global organization of leading merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory firms, announced today that it ranked second in Eastern Europe and the Nordic Region, and fifth in Latin America for completed M&A transactions, according to Thomson Reuters League Tables.

"We have a strong collaborative process in the Nordic region," said Jan-Olof Svensson, of the IMAP office in Sweden. "Our colleagues interact together well to provide support to the clients we serve."

For the third quarter of 2009, IMAP ranked second in Eastern Europe for completed transactions with values up to $200 million, improving upon its fourth-place ranking in 2008. IMAP also ranked second for deals completed in the Nordic region with transaction values up to $200 million. In addition, IMAP ranked fifth in Latin America for transactions completed with values up to $100 million, significantly improving its 11th place ranking in 2008.

"IMAP continues to solidify its global ranking for M&A transactions completed in emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe, the Nordic Region and Latin America," said István Préda, of the IMAP office in Hungary. "We anticipate economic growth in the coming years in these markets, and believe it is important for IMAP to continue to grow a presence and build client relationships."

IMAP just concluded its Fall 2009 Global Mergers & Acquisitions Symposium in Istanbul, Turkey. Many of the leading private equity and strategic acquirers in southeast Europe and the Middle East were in attendance.

"IMAP is becoming more and more known in our marketplace," said Sevket Basev, of the IMAP office in Turkey. "Our market is now even more appreciative of the seamless collaboration provided by our IMAP colleagues."

The IMAP symposium featured keynote speaker José Maria Azner (former prime minister of Spain) along with a preeminent panel consisting of C-level representatives of private equity, corporate and legal firms from Austria, Greece, Russia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. IMAP will host its Spring 2010 Global Mergers & Acquisitions Symposium on April 9, 2010, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key in Miami, Florida.

Thomson Reuters League Tables are based on a single set of globally consistent criteria, submission guidelines, transaction classifications and eligibility rules, allowing interested parties to accurately analyze transactions from around the world. Transactions that were announced between January 1, 2008, and September 30, 2009, are included in the tables, which rank eligible mergers, acquisitions, repurchases, spin-offs, self-tenders, minority stake purchases and debt restructurings.

About IMAP

IMAP is an exclusive global organization of leading merger and acquisition advisory firms. Formed in 1973, IMAP is composed of 50 offices in more than 30 countries throughout North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, and Asia. In 2008, IMAP advisors completed 252 transactions, with an aggregate transaction value of more than $13 billion. IMAP advisors provide strategic merger, acquisition, divestiture and related corporate finance services. Sellers of mid-size companies and corporate acquirers alike rely upon IMAP for essential local market knowledge and industry expertise delivered with unparalleled global reach. Every business day, somewhere in the world, an IMAP adviser is completing an M&A transaction. More information is available via the Internet at www.imap.com.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Aubrey Pauly (312) 780-7218 apauly@dresnerco.com Sara DeNio (312) 780-7223 sdenio@dresnerco.com