Asset prices in Europe, overvalued for so long, are significantly lower than they have been for years. Today, it costs less to buy a business here than a similar one in Asia, for example, and right now the private sectors in Italy, Greece and Spain are replete with performing assets at discount valuations. With banks and other investors having to sell off huge portfolios of distressed assets and debt, it’s a buyer’s market for the right company.
As our survey shows, foreign investors are becoming increasingly aware of these opportunities, especially in Asia. While their North American counterparts are currently more cautious, over three-quarters of Asian respondents see their European Union (EU) competitors struggling and recognize the opportunities to invest in European businesses that this presents. In fact, almost half (45%) of Asian businesses that we spoke to are actively engaged in or are planning to make strategic acquisitions in the EU during the coming year. This contrasts sharply with their less optimistic counterparts in North America, where just 7% have similar plans. However, many large US private equity firms are reportedly planning to take advantage of what they see as a unique opportunity, not by targeting direct acquisitions but by purchasing portfolios of structured debt from banks in Europe.
Certain political and regulatory developments in the euro zone will create intriguing opportunities for investors with an appetite for risk. Consider the German energy market. Having made the environmental decision to shut down all its nuclear plants within 10 years, Germany is in the process of attempting to transform its entire energy network by investing in infrastructure and seeking alternative supplies. Major energy companies, such as E.ON and RWE, have to reinvent their business models. As this new energy landscape takes shape, opportunities for promising investments are already appearing.
There are risks, of course. Having received heavy subsidies for years, German renewable energy businesses are not accustomed to strong price competition. With the subsidies cut and cheap solar panels available from China, German firms may face some big challenges. But this political decision is already having an impact far beyond Germany’s borders and will influence the European energy landscape for decades to come.
Asset prices in Europe, overvalued for so long, are significantly lower than they have been for years. Today, it costs less to buy a business here than a similar one in Asia, for example, and right now the private sectors in Italy, Greece and Spain are replete with performing assets at discount valuations. With banks and other investors having to sell off huge portfolios of distressed assets and debt, it’s a buyer’s market for the right company.
As our survey shows, foreign investors are becoming increasingly aware of these opportunities, especially in Asia. While their North American counterparts are currently more cautious, over three-quarters of Asian respondents see their European Union (EU) competitors struggling and recognize the opportunities to invest in European businesses that this presents. In fact, almost half (45%) of Asian businesses that we spoke to are actively engaged in or are planning to make strategic acquisitions in the EU during the coming year. This contrasts sharply with their less optimistic counterparts in North America, where just 7% have similar plans. However, many large US private equity firms are reportedly planning to take advantage of what they see as a unique opportunity, not by targeting direct acquisitions but by purchasing portfolios of structured debt from banks in Europe.
Certain political and regulatory developments in the euro zone will create intriguing opportunities for investors with an appetite for risk. Consider the German energy market. Having made the environmental decision to shut down all its nuclear plants within 10 years, Germany is in the process of attempting to transform its entire energy network by investing in infrastructure and seeking alternative supplies. Major energy companies, such as E.ON and RWE, have to reinvent their business models. As this new energy landscape takes shape, opportunities for promising investments are already appearing.
There are risks, of course. Having received heavy subsidies for years, German renewable energy businesses are not accustomed to strong price competition. With the subsidies cut and cheap solar panels available from China, German firms may face some big challenges. But this political decision is already having an impact far beyond Germany’s borders and will influence the European energy landscape for decades to come.
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