Mergers and Acquisitions: M&A’s Class Struggle

As for Hyde, he is advising that clients with designs on selling their healthy business to sit tight in favor of sunnier skies. Only "must sells"—companies in financial distress or those with issues at the executive level—should consider entertaining offers under the current economic conditions.

"The financial results from 2007, 2008 and 2009 are not trending upwards for most companies," he cautions. "Without upward trending financials, there can't be enough of a growth rate to justify a high price."