KPMG’s 2018 Evolving Deals Landscape survey report captures the views on mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity from chairs, CEOs, CFOs, board directors, business owners and other senior executives from various sectors across Australia. The insights captured provide understanding into the thinking and planning going on behind this country’s ever-changing deal landscape – from buying, selling, fixing, funding and partnering perspectives.

This year’s survey results indicate a forthcoming boom in M&A activity and point to a continuing buoyant market over the next 3 years. 

Some of the key findings include:

• There is a 9 percent rise in overall positive sentiment for increasing M&A activity with 47 percent of respondents expecting a rise in M&A activity compared to 38 percent in 2017.
• 93 percent of respondents think M&A activity is likely to increase or remain steady.
• 75 percent of respondents think people and culture is the most challenging aspect of integration and one of the top reasons why M&As fail.
• Just over a quarter (27 percent) of respondents said they would be sourcing debt funding in the next 12 to 24 months. An increase from 18 percent in 2017.
• Consistent with last year, 34 percent of companies said they would be undertaking a performance improvement, restructure or company turnaround over the next 12-24 months.
• Legal and regulatory constraints has risen as a key barrier to M&A activity from just 13 percent citing this issue last year compared with over 38 percent this year.
• Australia and New Zealand remains the top investment destination for acquisitions for those expecting to undertake M&A in the next 12-24 months. But the focus on domestic/New Zealand deals has slipped from 91 percent of respondents last year to 62 percent this year.
• More than in any other sector, respondents in Financial Services (62 percent) are experiencing new entrants, technology or innovation disrupting traditional business models and 36 percent view this as a factor driving M&A.

The Evolving Deals Landscape survey is one of the most sought after thought leadership pieces in the industry. We look to executives across Australia for insights into the M&A landscape and hope you will participate in next year’s survey and findings.