Why Goldman Sachs Is Set to Lead M&A in 2019

The video discusses the strategies of major financial firms like Goldman Sachs in the M&A space, highlighting their focus on smaller deals and mid-market opportunities. It explores trends in family-owned businesses seeking liquidity and the significance of league tables in the finance industry. The role of boutique firms in M&A and the competitive landscape of investment banking are also examined.

What strategy is Goldman Sachs employing in the M&A space?

• Avoiding direct deals

• Engaging in smaller deals and courting private equity firms

• Ignoring private equity firms

• Focusing solely on large deals

Why are mid-market deals becoming significant according to the transcript?

• They are less profitable

• They offer a hedge against larger deals falling apart

• They are only pursued by large banks

• They are always in the headlines

What is a challenge faced by family-owned businesses in the Midwest?

• Lack of profitability

• Too many young successors

• Aging founders without successors

• Over-reliance on technology

How do league tables influence decision-making in M&A?

• They are irrelevant to private equity

• They help firms decide which banks to work with

• They only matter to small firms

• They have no impact

What trend is observed in the asset management industry?

• No interest in M&A

• Decreasing fees for passive funds

• Stable fees across all funds

• Increasing fees for ETFs