Auto Supplier M&A Activity Will Likely Drop by 25 Percent to 180 Deals Globally in 2013, According to PwC Global Study

DETROIT, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the growth most global automotive production markets are experiencing and automotive supply assets that remain undervalued, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is anticipated to decline by about 25 percent in 2013, with approximately 180 automotive supplier deals globally, according to PwC's sixth annual Consolidation in the Global Automotive Supply Industry study. At the same time, the average deal size is likely to increase, driving the overall global deal value up to about $14 billion this year, substantially higher than in the previous two years. The study reveals that for the third consecutive year, European automotive suppliers are the key target of global automotive supplier M&A activity, and the top buyers are large North American suppliers.

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"Over the past 12 months, global automotive supplier M&A activity has slowed and that trend is expected to continue as European suppliers continue to be impacted by the debt crisis and the related low vehicle sales in Europe. Additionally, North American suppliers look to the end of the growth runway for vehicle assembly growth in their home markets," said Dietmar Ostermann, PwC's global automotive advisory leader and one of the authors of the study. "Automotive supplier executives should take a harder look at how the industry will continue to change, and the winning suppliers should be able to support global OEM platforms and find opportunities in technology, such as increased direct injection and turbo charging in powertrain, lightweight materials in structures, and connected car technologies in the interior and electronics subsystems."

PwC's study also reveals that the strongest growing suppliers in 2012 were South Korean companies, with a combined average growth rate of almost 20 percent in the past year for the 46 largest South Korean suppliers, while Japanese suppliers declined at a rate of about five percent in the same period. Chinese suppliers' profitability declined by 19 percent, as they likely underestimated the slowing of the growth curve in China automobile production.

PwC's 2013 list of the top 10 potential consolidators within PwC's Global 100 suppliers showcases six North America companies and only three European and one Chinese. The top 10 consolidators executed on average 11 acquisitions each in the past five years. Each of the most likely consolidators has been evaluated on their "buyer score," a measure of their financial and operational ability to acquire other suppliers, as well as on their "buyer attitude," a measure of their willingness to make acquisitions.

For more details about the Consolidation in the Global Automotive Supply Industry study, download the publication at: www.pwc.com/auto.

About the Study
The sixth annual Consolidation in the Global Automotive Supply Industry 2013 study evaluates the largest automotive suppliers worldwide with respect to financial and operational performance and acquisition history. The expanded 2013 study includes 775 automotive suppliers with aggregate revenues of approximately US$3 trillion in 2012, from Brazil, China, Europe, India, North America, Japan, and South Korea.  The annual study is developed by PwC's Global Automotive Management Consulting practice. 

About PwC's Global Automotive Management Consulting Practice
PwC's Automotive Management Consulting practice creates a competitive advantage for its clients by changing the way companies operate. We work with senior executives to assist them in the development and implementation of innovative operational strategies that deliver breakthrough results. The practice is a leader in operational strategy, supply chain management, lean manufacturing, product development, customer value management, and enterprise co-creation. PwC's Automotive Management Consulting team has offices in all major global automotive hubs and serves OEMs, auto suppliers, auto retailers and the automotive aftermarket globally. For more information, visit www.pwc.com.

About PwC's Automotive Practice
PwC's global automotive practice leverages its extensive experience in the industry to help companies solve complex business challenges with efficiency and quality.  One of PwC's global automotive practice's key competitive advantages is Autofacts^®, a team of automotive industry specialists dedicated to on-going analysis of sector trends.  Autofacts provides our team of more than 4,800 automotive professionals and our clients with data and analysis about automotive production and capacity to assess implications make recommendations, and support decisions to compete in the global marketplace.

About Autofacts^®
Autofacts is a key strategic asset of PwC's global automotive practice. Autofacts provides on-going auto industry analysis our clients use to shape business strategy, assess implications and support a variety of operational decisions. The Autofacts team also draws from the strengths of PwC's marketing, sales and financial services groups to support other key areas of automotive companies' functions. Since 1985, our market-tested approach, diverse service offerings and dedication to client service have made Autofacts a trusted advisor throughout the industry. For more information, visit www.autofacts.com.

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This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.

SOURCE PwC