Honor Roll of the Most Active Acquirers of 2001

45 Acquisitions General Electric Co. Acquisition Pattern: Year-in, year-out GE is a ubiquitous presence in the m&a market, with extensive acquisitions to expand and round out its awesome mix of businesses. Continuing to buy while many other firms sat out the year or toned down external expansion, GE wound up at the top of the most active acquirers list for the fourth straight year. The huge GE Capital business was beneficiary of the company’s two megadeals – the $5.3 billion acquisition of Heller Financial Inc. and the $2.1 billion takeover of Franchise Finance Corp. of America. But the company’s acquisition reach extended through a host of smaller deals into fields as traditional as leasing and as sophisticated as software. 41 Acquisitions Tyco International Ltd. Acquisition Pattern: Another highly diversified company with an aggressive track record in acquisitions, Tyco gave GE a good run for its money in 2001. Indeed, Tyco is beginning to resemble a smaller version of GE with both its diversity and, most recently, its plunge into financial services with the $9.3 billion purchase of CIT Financial. Tyco also was active in adding to its security, electronics, and communications operations. 17 Acquisitions Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquisition Pattern: A newcomer to the top 10, the firm concentrates on buying insurance agencies. It is one of a half-dozen consolidators in the field, which faces increasing demands for greater capital and higher skills. 17 Acquisitions TMP Worldwide Inc. Acquisition Pattern: In the top 10 for the second straight year, TMP is a leading consolidator in the advertising field. Acquisitions focus on smaller companies in advertising, marketing, public relations, and related areas on a global basis. 15 Acquisitions Omnicom Group Inc. Acquisition Pattern: Omnicom, a repeater among the 10 most active acquirers, is another contender for growth via acquisition in advertising and adjacent communications sectors. It too seeks deals on a worldwide basis. 13 Acquisitions Clear Channel Communications Inc. Acquisition Pattern: Clear Channel has exploded via acquisition into one of the largest radio and TV chains in the country. Besides adding to its station holdings, the firm uses deals to further global designs in outdoor advertising and live entertainment promotion. 12 Acquisitions Citigroup Inc. Acquisition Pattern: The largest financial services firm in the U.S., Citigroup keeps buying to expand its varied operations in commercial banking, investment banking, insurance, and commercial and consumer finance, both at home and abroad. The key deal in 2001 that brought more heft to commercial banking operations in the New York area was its $2 billion buyout of European American Bank. 12 Acquisitions Dow Chemical Corp. Acquisition Pattern: Dow Chemical sewed up its mega-acquisition of Union Carbide to accelerate consolidation in the chemicals industry and added a batch of other chemicals businesses on an international basis. 12 Acquisitions Penton Media Corp. Acquisition Pattern: A newcomer to the most actives, Penton focuses on buying specialty publications, as well as conference, research, and communication service businesses. 12 Acquisitions Great Plains Software Inc. Acquisition Pattern: Great Plains joined the list with relatively small but timely acquisitions to roll out a complete package of software products and services. This is another field in which consolidation has been moving at a strong pace. Honorable Mention 10Acquisitions – Calpine, Divine, H.J. Heinz, United Parcel Service 9Acquisitions – Cendant, Hilb, Rogal & Hamilton, Interpublic Group of Cos., J.P. Morgan Chase, SPX, Schlumberger, Solectron, United Technologies 8Acquisitions – Aon, Brown & Brown, Cisco Systems, MDU Resources, Martin Marietta Materials, Option Care, Zions Bancorp 7Acquisitions – AES, Black Box, Boston Scientific, Brooks Automation, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Fiserv, Ingersoll-Rand, Intel, MetLife, Mobile Mini Most Active Acquirers of 2000 General Electric Co. 47 Interpublic Group of Cos.30 Quanta Services Inc. 25 Cisco Systems Co. 24 Black Box Corp. 21 PSINet Inc. 21 Citigroup Inc. 19 Omnicom Group Inc. 19 TMP Worldwide Inc.19 True North Communications Inc.19