-
Business risk services
Organisations must understand and manage risk and seek an appropriate balance between risk and opportunities.
-
Cybersecurity
As organisations become increasingly dependent on digital technology, the opportunities for cyber criminals continue to grow.
-
Business consulting
We can formulate solutions to keep you ahead of disruptive change.
-
Valuations
Our valuation specialists blend technical expertise with a pragmatic outlook to deliver support during transactions, restructuring and disputes.
-
Transactional advisory services
Helping you with successful growth deals throughout your business life cycle.
-
Recovery and reorganisation
Workable solutions to maximise your value and deliver sustainable recovery.
-
Mergers and acquisitions
Strategic growth decision making. Globalisation and company growth ambitions are driving an increase in M&A activity worldwide.
-
Forensic and investigation services
Rapid and customised approach to investigations and dispute resolution.
-
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
Our member firm IFRS advisers can help you navigate the complexity of the Standards so you can focus your time and effort on running your business.
-
Audit quality monitoring
A key component of our global strategy is to promote the delivery of consistent, high quality client service worldwide.
-
Global audit technology
We apply our global audit methodology through an integrated set of software tools known as the Voyager suite.
-
Corporate and business tax
Growing businesses need strong tax management to meet current and future tax liabilities and we can help you achieve this, whatever challenges you face.
-
Direct international tax
We have the insight and agility to create the strategies you need to respond quickly to ever-changing tax laws.
-
Global mobility services
In a globalised world, businesses must work seamlessly across borders. Organisations operate in multiple countries and view international expansion as a strategic objective.
-
Indirect international tax
With more goods and services crossing national borders than ever before, you may be facing indirect tax obligations in many countries – even those where your customer is located.
-
Innovation and investment incentives
Dynamic businesses must continually innovate to maintain competitiveness, evolve and grow. Valuable tax reliefs are available to support innovative activities, irrespective of your tax profile.
-
Private client services
Protecting business and personal wealth is of upmost importance for private clients worldwide. At Grant Thornton, we bring reason and instinct to all aspects of your personal finance and compliance planning.
-
Transfer pricing
The laws surrounding transfer pricing are becoming ever more complex, as tax affairs of multinational companies are facing scrutiny from media, regulators and the public.
-
Tax policy
Grant Thornton’s teams can work with you to help you understand these regulations, develop a strategy tailored to your business’ individual tax needs and manage tax risk around the globe.
-
Business process solutions
As organisations grow, back office processes and meeting reporting requirements across multiple jurisdictions can become a distraction. We remove the burden of back office operations and worries about compliance to enable you to focus on growth.
The rise of the cross-border transaction
21 Mar 2013Annual IBR M&A report
Our annual look at M&A sentiment around the world shows that the shift in acquisitive focus amongst businesses uncovered last year – from domestic to cross-border – is becoming increasingly popular as a key strategy for companies looking to facilitate growth.
The 2013 IBR M&A report, The rise of the cross-border transaction, reveals that close to two in five of those businesses planning to grow through acquisition over the next three years are looking at cross-border opportunities. This is up from one in three this time last year, and less than one in four before the financial crisis struck.
With the eurozone crisis rumbling on and the region set to contract again this year, it’s no surprise to see 44% of mainland Europe’s business leaders looking overseas for expansion opportunities. 38% of North America’s businesses are similarly minded.
Business leaders in the faster-growing BRIC economies are also increasingly looking at cross-border acquisitions – both to boost productivity and demand by accessing new technologies and markets respectively. 40% of those looking to expand – led by mainland China (48%) – are now looking overseas, up from 33% 12 months ago.
A merger or acquisition offers dynamic organisations the opportunity to diversify and access new markets and growth opportunities relatively quickly in order to maintain a competitive advantage and create shareholder value.
Activity remains relatively depressed by the pervading uncertainty in the global economy, but the marked increase in prominence and importance of cross-border M&A to business leaders illustrates that accessing global markets and opportunities is now, more than ever, a vital growth tool.
Mike Hughes is international service line leader for M&A at Grant Thornton.
Check out our data visualisation tool for M&A data going back to 2008 or for more information please contact the Global research team.