The M&A Specialist Group is open to all members and combines the expertise and resources of our M&A specialists from around the world.
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The brains at KPMG and KPMG Law believe the M&A landscape is changing.
The below is a bullet-point summary of a recent article produced in conjunction with them – do you agree?
- Technological Advantage in M&A: Legal and accounting professionals who effectively integrate technology, particularly AI, into the M&A process will gain a competitive edge. Technology will enhance the speed and efficiency of transactions, allowing lawyers and accountants to focus on strategic roles while routine tasks are automated.
- Digitalisation Levels the Playing Field: Developing markets, such as those in Southeast Asia, are poised to "leapfrog" older technologies, quickly adopting advanced tools like AI and 5G. This could help new players in these regions compete more effectively on the global M&A stage.
- ESG Compliance as a New Challenge: Emerging ESG regulations will significantly expand the scope of due diligence required in M&A deals. Legal and accounting teams must prepare to handle larger volumes of data and ensure that companies are compliant with new reporting requirements, which may also necessitate changes in business operations.
- Increased Complexity in International Tax: The introduction of BEPS 2.0 and other international tax rules will complicate the structuring of M&A deals. Legal teams will need to work closely with tax professionals to navigate these changes and ensure transactions are optimised for new tax environments.
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: As M&A activity shifts towards Asia and other developing markets, legal teams must develop greater linguistic and cultural diversity to manage deals across various jurisdictions effectively.
- Importance of Information Management: With the acceleration of deal-making, robust information management will be crucial. Legal and accounting teams will lead in managing data flow, ensuring confidentiality and coordinating the work of multiple specialists involved in the due diligence process.
These points highlight the evolving landscape of M&A and the critical role that technology, cultural adaptability, and regulatory compliance will play in the success of legal teams moving forward.
If you would like your say on any of these points, to agree, disagree and/or share your own insight about your region and firm – and to hear what other M&A professionals are saying – do join one of the calls next Wednesday.
You’ll also get a chance to highlight what’s going on in your firm and your market and see if there are opportunities to collaborate with other accounting and law firms in our two networks.
Nicki Lynn
Operations Manager
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