http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/13021174/c_13021479?f=TodayInFinance012909

In 2008, nearly every global and U.S. category was off, according to a William Blair report, and 2009 looks little better. An exception: U.S. deals under $50-million in value. Roy Harris - CFO.com | US January 28, 2009

 As year-end tallies of merger-and-acquisition activity for 2008 start to roll in, William Blair & Co.'s "Merger Tracker" summary may capture it all in a single cliché. "M&A activity ended 2008," it concludes, "with a resounding thud."