Accenture: Euro Debt Crisis Drives Search for Eurozone Acquisitions

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

Half of eurozone-based companies are actively seeking acquisitions within the eurozone in response to the currency and debt crisis, according to new research by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The survey of 450 business leaders in countries in and outside the eurozone also reveals that although 44 percent have accelerated their investments in emerging markets as a result of the uncertainty, companies in the currency area continue to invest in their eurozone operations.  The research, published in a report: Exploring the Eurozone: take cover or take advantage, covered France, Germany and Spain, as well as China, the UK and the United States.

Eurozone companies are more likely to seek joint ventures (JVs) in the currency area in response to the crisis. Forty-five percent are actively seeking JVs compared to 34 percent of companies outside the eurozone. German companies are most eager (56 percent) followed by Spanish companies (48 percent).

Outside the eurozone, Chinese companies appear keener than those in the US or the United Kingdom to take advantage of the crisis and increase their investments in the currency area, according to the survey. 25 percent of Chinese respondents say they plan to accelerate their investments in the eurozone due to the crisis, compared to three percent of US and 11 percent of UK companies. Seventy-one percent of Chinese respondents are seeking acquisitions in the eurozone or will shortly begin to do so, compared to 20 percent of US and 30 percent of UK companies.