OUTLOOK POSITIVE FOR GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY M&A, SAYS ERNST & YOUNG

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The outlook for merger and acquisitions
(M&A) activity in the technology sector is good this year as this sector
globally recorded the third consecutive quarter of growth in the fourth quarter
of 2009, Ernst & Young said.

"It looks like 2010 could be a good year for technology M&A, given the
continuing stabilisation of the global economy, technology innovations,
increasing company valuations and the improved operating performance of
technology companies through 2009," Global Technology Transaction Advisory
Services Leader at Ernst & Young, Joe Steger said in a statement here Friday.

He, however said that companies should be prepared for continued market
volatility and remaining focused as each company's strategy would be different
and every deal unique.

"Successful companies will conduct detailed upfront analysis, comprehensive
due diligence and robust integration planning before entering into any deal," he
said.

M&A in the technology sector rose by 13 per cent to 553 in the fourth
quarter of 2009 compared with 488 in the third quarter, it said.

Total deal value quadrupled in the last quarter of 2009 (US$35.4 billion)
compared with US$9.2 billion in 2008, although full-year total M&A in 2009
disclosed a value of US$94.8 billion) which was 2.0 per cent lower than 2008's
full-year figure of US$96.3 billion.
-- BERNAMA