I recently came across some statistics relating to US corporate deals that got me thinking about whether our own Scottish family businesses should take a cue from some rather large operators across the pond.
For the last few years, a number of factors that traditionally favour corporate deals have existed in the US market - such as low interest rates and improving equity markets - but the level of corporate acquisitions has remained pretty static.
Recently however, US corporate acquisitions have moved into top gear, with more than $300bn of corporate mergers and acquisitions completed in the five months up to August. Deal volumes are up 50 per cent so far, bringing it close to the peak levels we were seeing in 2000.
So what? You might ask.Well, when you look closer at the deal information a few key factors start to emerge. Many of the 2014 deals have so far been sizeable, such as Walgreen acquiring its stake in Alliance Boots. This type of activity though has a habit of creating a ripple effect, encouraging mid-market and ultimately smaller deals, which then leads to more deals reaching beyond the US borders.
So, we should not be surprised to see that deal ripple (or is it a wave?) reach these shores.
For me, the more interesting point is around the reasons why, after a few static years, those US companies are now pursuing acquisitions with such energy and commitment?
Certainly there is a feeling that the stability in economic growth, whilst not stellar, has bolstered management confidence. Just as importantly, many businesses have also been experiencing increased competition and margins being squeezed whilst being unable to further cut costs to bolster profits. This leads to a need to grow their top line to keep moving forward. That often means acquisitions.
In fact, many of the recent US mega deals appear to be transformational acquisitions. Rather than looking for incremental growth, they're now seeking out opportunities that have a large strategic impact on the business and their top line.
Clearly, the backdrop for a large US business will not be the same for all of our family businesses but it does raise some interesting points for us to consider. Do our family businesses face any of those same challenges?
Like the US companies in question, many of our family businesses are long established and find themselves operating with growing competition and increasing pressure on prices and margins. In a bid to continue moving forward, they are seeking alternative options including innovation and investment in technology to ensure their continued existence. Other tactics I've seen also point towards acquisitions that will bring in further sales and economies of scale or help businesses to diversify into new products or markets.
We all know acquisitions involve risk but they can also reap huge reward. I know many clients in Scotland and internationally, that have delivered a step-change in their business through well executed acquisitions.
It is also worth reflecting again on the global nature of our deals markets. Lots of those US deals involve acquisition of, or by, overseas companies. This is not dis-similar to our own market where a significant proportion of the deals we work on (large and small) now have an international element. In fact, at the last count, we have been involved in advising clients in close to 60 countries.
A lot of family businesses I speak to, perhaps understandably, focus on organic growth, and cash retention and de-gearing, as the means to creating a stable and sustainable business. For many that will remain the correct policy but others might be better served, long-term, by spreading their wings through acquisition - whether here or abroad. There are lots of deal opportunities out there and it may well be worth turning the stones to see what can be found.
Robert Burns is a partner at law firm Burness Paull.
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