“M&A transaction activity saw significant improvement in 2010. A recovery in business valuations leading to more motivated sellers, an easing in the financial credit markets and the global economic recovery,” reports George Steinbarger (PCE Investment Bankers) in “State of the M&A Markets Year End 2010.” PCE’s report, based on data from Capital IQ, indicates “valuation multiples also continued to show impressive growth. The greatest improvement was in the $50 to $100 million segment, increasing from 6.9x EBITDA in 2009 to 12.1X EBITDA in 2010.