Thailand business deals to soar post-crisis
Record growth in global M&A offers hope for Thailand’s recovering economy, PwC predicts
Significant growth is expected in the volume and value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Thailand over the next 12 months compared to the first half of 2021 as the economy opens up, according to PwC Thailand.
The forecast follows a positive start to this year, when deals in the country in the first six months exceeded those in 2020, it said.
Despite the uncertainty created by Covid19, Thai businesses have been reviewing their portfolios and seeking to acquire new capabilities with high growth potential through M&A deals, said Chantanuch Chotikapanich, deals lead partner with PwC Thailand.
With relatively low financial costs and optimism that business activity in the country will soon pick up, more companies are turning to M&A. This includes divesting in certain areas or diversifying to enhance existing capabilities and reinforce their competitive advantage, she said.
“It’s been quite a surprise to see a lot of activity in business deals in Thailand, both by the buy side and sell side,” said Ms Chantanuch. “People may think the market is quiet because of the pandemic, but many deals have been made quietly behind closed doors.
“Covid-19 has proven to be a catalyst for change, together with changing consumer behaviour and increased dependence on technology. These factors have prompted businesses to strengthen their portfolios or venture into new directions that are more in line with the trends they envision for a post-pandemic world.
“M&A is a shortcut to transform their businesses. Many companies are choosing to sell off some existing assets even in areas where they have expertise because they aren’t deemed future-proof. They prefer to hold cash or wait for a good time to invest.”
This uptick in deals activity reflects the global picture, as reported in the PwC report “Global M&A Industry Trends: 2021 Midyear Outlook”.
The report examines current global deal activity and presents insights from PwC’s M&A industry specialists. They have identified the key trends driving activity, as well as investment hotspots for the rest of 2021 and into 2022.
The global figures show record levels of deals in the first six months of 2021 both in terms of volume and value, notably rising in excess of US$1 trillion per quarter over the past 12 months.
SPAC SPREE
Fresh capital inflows led by special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) have been a major catalyst. As well, there has been an increase in private equity (PE) investment and corporate acquisitions — particularly focused on technology assets, it said.
The financial services and retail consumer sectors led with the most combined deals and acquisitions in Thailand over the past six months, Ms Chantanuch said.
These businesses were looking to gain a competitive advantage, perform cost restructuring and increase efficiency and profitability, she added. They were followed by future-ready businesses in a variety of sectors, including electronic components, data centres, upstream food, raw materials and production.
In contrast, data from the PwC report show that technology, media and telecommunications companies accounted for a third of all megadeals globally in the first half of 2021.
The transformation to net-zero also continued to influence M&A activity in the energy, utilities and resources industry, where deal volumes and values recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Despite the rise in deal activity in Thailand, the appetite for M&A in industries such as hospitality and airlines has been more muted, Ms Chantanuch said.
Even though these businesses’ valuations have become more attractive, some prospective buyers believe the sectors still have some way to go before recovering, she said.
RECOVERY THEME
Future government financial recovery packages could stimulate the broader economy, which would produce follow-on benefits for infrastructure, construction and supply chainrelated businesses.
“Even though businesses should be holding onto cash where they can, those with enough funds should be bold and seek investment opportunities that could prepare their businesses for the future,” she said.
“For anyone monitoring the situation dayby-day, I’d suggest reviewing the relevance of their original business model and studying market trends.
“They should see what’s missing or needs to be invested or divested to maximise their business capabilities. Maintaining a competitive edge alone isn’t enough for the Covid world — businesses need to be ready to adapt quickly in an ever-changing world.”
‘‘ Many companies are choosing to sell off some existing assets even in areas where they have expertise because they aren’t deemed future-proof. CHANTANUCH CHOTIKAPANICH Deals lead partner, PwC Thailand