Cross-border mergers & acquisitions: building momentum

Despite the on-going global economic challenges, the latest results of the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) indicate that dynamic businesses have retained last year’s renewed appetite for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity.

The market revival in M&A interest, that emerged in last year’s survey, is still in evidence and is an indication that many corporates, who have successfully plotted their way through the global downturn, are now seeking to invest the cash resources built up over a period of limited M&A activity.

Domestic M&A remains notably high on business owners’ agendas, as this report illustrates. There are also some interesting trends regarding their interest in overseas expansion which no doubt reflects the particular market conditions within individual regions globally.

With recent positive economic data from the US and impressive growth continuing to be experienced in the BRIC countries, the global economy is undoubtedly entering a new phase. To take advantage of this, enterprising corporates appreciate that M&A remains a vital strategic tool to enable them to benefit from these trends.