M&A REPORT -- New Era of Consolidation

Even if the activity level bounces back near the heights of 1998 and 1999—and Reilly, like most, is skeptical of these odds—he believes it would take a couple of years to happen.

The stock performances of many traditionally M&A-active printers—which have consistently outperformed the S&P 500 index for the last six months—will have a positive effect on their ability to conduct transactions, according to Feinstein.