A rising international demand for north east oil and gas deal-makers’ expertise is likely to grow global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the next 18 months, a survey by professional services firm KPMG has found.
The study, conducted at the company’s Aberdeen M&A forum, indicated all of the deal-makers surveyed expected to be involved in M&A activity to some degree over the next 18 months, with medium sized companies (turnover of less than £100m) being the most likely to be involved in deals with larger international corporations.
Around half (45%) of those surveyed expect deals to be driven by North American companies, while a quarter (26%) predict activity coming from the Far East.
Almost one fifth (17%) expect the emerging economies of the Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and African nations to be involved in Scottish deals in the next 18 months, while only 13% see activity occurring between Scottish companies and companies from within the Eurozone.
“Our latest research continues to demonstrate a healthy appetite for M&A activity in the coming 12 to 18 months,” said Alan Kennedy, transaction services partner for KPMG in Aberdeen.
“Oil and gas companies in the north east are recognised as world experts in the field.
“As the global economy recovers we’re seeing large international companies looking to buy them up in order to absorb that expertise so they can apply it to their own operations.”
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