While spring may still be months away, the thoughts of corporatefinance chiefs are already filled with visions of corporatematrimony. More than a quarter (27%) of CFOs surveyed recently byRobert Half Management Resources expect mergers and acquisitions toheat up in the next 12 months; at larger companies with 1,000-plusemployees, 32.9% expect a surge.

Over the next two to three years, 48% of those surveyed expectedto see a significant uptick. Robert Half conducted the survey of1,400 CFOs of U.S. companies in August and again in late October2006.

Not surprisingly, the primary drivers of this anticipatedM&A activity are the record corporate cash coffers built up inthe current business expansion cycle and an easy credit market,where interest rates have remained stubbornly low in the face ofthe Federal Reserve's efforts to raise them. The sectors where CFOsexpect the most activity: transportation (44%), finance (42%) andmanufacturing (38%).

However, CFOs polled were not bullish about the prospects forinitial public offerings increasing, with only 8% predicting asurge.