Today's Marketplace discusses state of M&A with Creighton University's Tirimba Obonyo and Moelis's Mark Henkels

Core Insights - The current state of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is experiencing a 9% drop in activity during the first half of the year, attributed to market uncertainties, including tariffs and interest rates [2] Group 1: M&A Activity and Market Conditions - Dr. Obonyo highlighted that uncertainties in the market, particularly regarding tariffs, are causing hesitation among companies to commit significant capital for M&A [2] - Key considerations for M&A include identifying the right target, ensuring the right price, and planning for post-merger integration [2] - Mark Henkels noted that higher interest rates are influencing deal activity in the industrial sector, leading to more creative deal structuring beyond all-cash transactions [2] Group 2: Strategic Priorities in the Industrial Sector - The focus in the industrial sector has shifted from pure growth to simplification and allowing investors to decide on diversification [2] - "Through-cycle" performance has become a key theme in industrial boardrooms, emphasizing the need for growth that can withstand uncertainty [2]