Simply stated, optimizing the way businesses work, interact, and communicate with employees, customers, suppliers, and other business partners on the web is a priority for decision makers holding the IT purse strings. With research organizations, like The Yankee Group, projecting that corporations stand to save an estimated $11 billion in 2001 and $84 billion in 2005 by improving communication and interaction among employees, customers and extended enterprise partners, we begin to understand why. As a result, the collaborative software space is on track to hit revenues of $2.5 billion in 2001 and is expected to grow to $7.3 billion by 2003, representing a CAGR of 70%. Moreover, despite lower valuations there are an increasing number of M&A transactions and only a slight decrease in the number of private equity financings within the collaboration sector.

Small steel service companies and metal fabricators have fallen on tough times in 2001 following several years of strong demand and growth opportunities. Industry consolidators, which were once fueled by strong economic conditions, have slowed their "growth through acquisition" strategy. However, many specialty fabricators and steel service companies are still actively seeking and completing strategic transactions to strengthen their market position.

Has the electronics manufacturing industry finally lost its power? The industry enjoyed record growth during 1998, 1999 and into 2000; with many companies reaching over 100% increases in annual top line revenue growth. As the market slowed, companies scrambled to conserve cash and position to survive the shakeout. As a result, mergers and acquisitions have become a survival strategy for many companies while stronger players are using this market downturn to enhance their product offerings through strategic acquisitions.

The embedded software space has seen significant merger and acquisition activity in recent years. While the industry is expected to grow 16% per year through 2004, the consolidation of small and mid-size embedded software firms continues to increase the margin pressure felt by many firms in the industry.

The growth of the satellite communication industry has been fueled by booming demand for mobile communication, global positioning service, and broadcasting. According to the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the commercial satellite industry generated $81 billion in global revenue in 2000, with revenue segmented into four sectors: 1) services 2) ground equipment 3) satellite manufacturing and 4) launching.