"There is a lack of decent-size acquisition opportunities in catering Compass and Sodexho have mopped up most of them," says Bevan.
Thus for sufficently large image sizes acquisition times could become impractical.
What they don't have is Getty-size acquisition funds.
Q. BT has made 27 small- to medium-size acquisitions in the last three years.
It's a notable move for Facebook, which has exclusively focused on bite-size acquisitions, worth less than $100 million.
Share buy backs or higher dividends could also be considered, although Intertek is more likely to find enough small and medium sized acquisitions.
Intertek is still looking at small to medium sized acquisitions but noted that prices for some of the larger acquisitions, especially those sold by private equity, are too high.
In the absence of a Air Force tanker contract, EADS executives have said the company will seek a North American expansion through medium-size acquisitions.
[C9.] Second-Quarter Income Rises at Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch posted strong second-quarter earnings, buoyed by improved results in investment banking and trading, a gain in its private equity business and a string of moderate-size acquisitions.
