European M&A Construction Monitor 2013 has been saved
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European M&A Construction Monitor 2013
Trends for 2012-2014
We are pleased to present the third edition of the European M&A Construction Monitor. This monitor looks at the latest trends and issues in mergers & acquisitions (M&A) in the construction industry in Europe. This 2013 publication complements the “European Powers of Construction” (EPoC) of 2012: a Deloitte research paper examining the status of major European listed construction companies.
Highlights in the publication:
- The number of deals was higher in 2012 than in 2011. M&A activity in 2013 is expected to be in line with 2012.
- The average deal size remains limited in 2012 and 2013.
- Sector diversification is still on the agenda of larger construction companies that are in a position to anticipate developments in the construction markets.
- Sector diversification seems more profitable than cross-border M&A strategies.
- It seems that companies with a strong focus on internationalisation have lower profit margins: cross-border strategies involve high entry and start-up costs which affect profitability of non-domestic acquisitions.
- Alongside diversifying strategies, we see a new item on the agenda: refocusing on core business and divestment of assets that do not fit into the new strategy.
- DBFM(O) contracts are becoming more interesting to construction companies, despite slightly narrowing profit margins due to tougher competition.
- Although the number of insolvencies in the European construction sector seems to have stabilised (>1% of the construction companies per year), both smaller and larger construction companies are still filing for insolvency.
- Lenders seem to take, to a certain extent, a more lenient stance when debtors are defaulting on their obligations.
- More private equity involvement, both in financing business and acquiring assets of construction companies