Last year marked a continuation of strong M&A volumes, with US$3.15 trillion in global transactions according to data provider, Mergermarket. Strong activity, driven by cheap debt and a low growth environment, has continued into Q1 2018, and large deals are expected to be a fixture of the M&A landscape in the year to come. The buoyant M&A market has led to extensive reorganisation work for both sellers and buyers, particularly for mega-deals that frequently require substantial post-deal integration and non-core divestment work — a trend Latham believes will continue while M&A levels remain high. However, while well-executed reorganisations can help facilitate a smooth M&A process or integration project, they require meticulous and timely planning to ensure a successful outcome.
What constitutes a corporate reorganisation and why reorganise?
A corporate reorganisation typically involves the transfer of assets, whole businesses, or shares between entities forming part of the same corporate group, on a solvent basis. Businesses undertake corporate reorganisations for several reasons, and M&A is currently a large driver.