-
Business valuations
We offer expert valuation advice in transactions, regulatory and administrative matters, and matters subject to dispute – valuing businesses, shares and intangible assets in a wide range of industries.
-
Capital markets
You need corporate finance specialists experienced in international capital markets on your side if you’re buying or selling financial securities.
-
Complex and international services
Our experience of multi-jurisdictional insolvencies coupled with our international reputation allows us to deliver the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.
-
Corporate insolvency
Our corporate investigation and recovery teams can help you manage insolvency situations and facilitate the best outcome.
-
Debt advisory
An optimal funding structure for your organisation presents unprecedented opportunities, but achieving this can be difficult without a trusted advisor.
-
Expert witness
Our expert witnesses analyse, interpret, summarise and present complex financial and business-related issues which are understandable and properly supported.
-
Financial models
A sound financial model will help you understand the impact of your decisions before you make them. Talk to us about our user-friendly models.
-
Forensic and investigation services
We provide investigative accounting and litigation support services for commercial, matrimonial, criminal, business valuation and insurance disputes.
-
Independent business review
Is your business viable? Will it remain viable in the future? A thorough independent business review can help your organisation answer these fundamental questions.
-
IT forensics
Effective ESI analysis is integral to the success of your business. Our IT forensics experts have the technical expertise to identify, preserve and interrogate electronic data.
-
Mergers and acquisitions
Grant Thornton provides strategic and execution support for mergers, acquisitions, sales and fundraising.
-
Raising finance
Raising finance - funders value partners who can deliver a robust financial model, a sound business strategy and rigorous planning. We can guide you through the challenges that these transactions can pose and help you build a foundation for long term success once the deal is done.
-
Relationship property services
Grant Thornton offers high quality independent advice on the many financial issues associated with relationship property from considering an individual financial issue to all aspects of a complex settlement.
-
Restructuring and turnaround
Grant Thornton’s restructuring and turnaround service capabilities include cash flow, liquidity management and forecasting; crisis and interim management; financial advisory services to companies and parties in transition and distress
-
Transaction advisory
Our depth of market knowledge will steer you through the transaction process. Grant Thornton’s dynamic teams offer range of financial, commercial and operational expertise.
-
Corporate tax
Grant Thornton can identify tax issues, risks and opportunities in your organisation and implement strategies to improve your bottom line.
-
Employment tax
Grant Thornton’s advisers can help you with PAYE (payroll tax), Kiwisaver, fringe benefits tax (FBT), student loans, global mobility services, international tax
-
Global mobility services
Our team can help expatriates and their employers deal with tax and employment matters both in New Zealand and overseas. With the correct planning advice, employee allowances and benefits may be structured to avoid double taxation and achieve tax savings.
-
GST
GST has the potential to become a minefield and can be expensive when it goes wrong. Our technical knowledge can help you minimise the negative impact of GST
-
International tax
International tax rules are undergoing their biggest change in a generation. Tax authorities around the world are increasingly vigilant, especially when it comes to global operations.
-
Research and Development
R&D tax incentives are often underused and misunderstood – is your business maximising opportunities for making claims?
-
Tax compliance
Our advisers help clients manage the critical issue of compliance across accountancy regulations, corporation law and tax. We also offer business and wealth advisory services, which means we can provide a seamless and tax-effective offering to our clients.
-
Transfer pricing
Tax authorities are demanding transparency in international arrangements. We businesses comply with regulations and use transfer pricing as a strategic planning tool.
-
Audit methodology
Our five step audit methodology offers a high quality service wherever you are in the world and includes planning, risk assessment, testing internal controls, substantive testing, and concluding and reporting
-
Audit technology
We apply our audit methodology with an integrated set of software tools known as the Voyager suite. Our technology has been developed to produce quality audits that are effective and efficient.
-
Financial reporting advisory
Our financial reporting advisers have the expertise to help you deal with the constantly evolving regulatory environment.
-
Business architecture
Our business architects help businesses with disruptive conditions, business expansion and competitive challenges; the deployment of your strategy is critical to success.
-
Cloud services
Our team is led by cloud business experts who tailor services to the needs of your organisation, from strategy and implementation to ongoing services assurance.
-
Internal audit
Our internal audits deliver independent assurance over key controls within your riskiest processes, proving what works and what doesn’t and recommending improvements.
-
IT advisory
Our hands on product experience, extensive functional knowledge and industry insights help clients solve complex IT and technology issues
-
IT privacy and security
IT privacy and security should support your business strategy. Our pragmatic approach focuses on reducing cyber security risks specific to your organisation
-
Organisational & cultural change
The key to sustainable and future growth is a unified organisation operating within a strong cultural context, where transparency and communication are the priority for Kaimahi, and where visible leadership means walking the talk – but where does that journey begin?
-
Payroll assurance
Our specialist payroll assurance team can conduct a review of your payroll system configuration and processes, and then help you and your team to implement any necessary recalculations.
-
PCI DSS
Our information security specialists are approved Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) that have been qualified by the PCI Security Standards Council to independently assess merchants and service providers.
-
Process improvement
As your organisation grows in size and complexity, processes that were once enabling often become cumbersome and inefficient. To maintain growth, your business must remain flexible, agile and profitable
-
Procurement/supply chain
Procurement and supply chain inputs will often dominate your balance sheet and constantly evolve for organisations to remain competitive and meet changing customer requirements
-
Project assurance
Major programmes and projects expose you to significant financial and reputational risk throughout their life cycle. Don’t let these risks become a reality.
-
Risk management
We understand that growing companies need to establish robust internal controls, and use information technology to effectively mitigate risk.
-
Robotic process automation (RPA)
RPA is emerging as the most sophisticated form of automation used to help businesses become more agile and remain competitive in the face of today’s ongoing digital disruption.
More New Zealand companies looking overseas for M&A opportunities
After a period of consolidation following the Global Financial Crisis, more New Zealand companies are considering cross-border mergers and acquisitions as they look to build scale and gain access to new geographic markets.
Recent research from the latest Grant Thornton International Business Report shows 39% of New Zealand’s small to medium-sized companies that are looking to expand plan to do so by cross-border acquisition.
Martin Gray, Head of Lead Advisory for Grant Thornton New Zealand, said that New Zealand was on a par with the global average (39%) but the trend was definitely up.
“In the 2012 survey only 24% of New Zealand companies looking to acquire were thinking of expansion through cross-border mergers and acquisitions against a global average of 33%. This increase by New Zealand companies is a reflection of what has been happening internationally over the last five years where the expectation that cross-border merger and acquisition activity will drive growth has increased 56% since 2008.
“With our size, geographic isolation and intellectual property, it is imperative that we are above the global average when it comes to cross-border acquisitions. We need to be involved in those parts of the value chain that provide the greatest margin for the value we bring to the table.
“Where is the New Zealand strategy to help our companies acquire businesses internationally so that they become more involved in this chain, thereby reaping larger profits?
“For New Zealand our stars are aligned when you look at our products, our position in the market and our intellectual property in sectors experiencing strong growth,” he said.
The main drivers for New Zealand companies to grow through acquisition were to build scale (69% compared with 61% in 2012), accessing new geographic markets (49% compared with 59%) and acquiring new technology or established brands (42% compared with 41%).
Gray said that there has been a lot of consolidation in New Zealand since the GFC with strong companies having acquired competition as the weak either disappeared or were swallowed up.
“This is reinforced in two ways by the research. The first is the increase in cross-border acquisitions and the second is an actual fall in the number of New Zealand companies looking to expand through acquisition from 30% in 2012 to 24% this year, a trend reflected internationally where percentages have dropped from 34% to 28%,” he said.
The research also showed New Zealand company owners (24%) as the second most likely in the world behind Finland (26%) to sell their businesses in the next three years against a global average of 7.6%.
“This is indicative of the number of small businesses we have in New Zealand, and also the age of the owners with many baby boomers looking to retirement.
“The interesting aspect to this is how these owners believe they will be bought out with 47% believing it will be either management or family and 31% a competitor or trade buyer.
“As stated earlier, there has been a consolidation in the number of competitors or trade people looking to buy other businesses, so family and management will take a more prominent part. Trade buyers have largely acquired the businesses that they want and owners need to turn to management and make it as easy as possible for them to acquire the company,” he said.
The full IBR 2013 M&A report is available here: The rise of the cross border transaction.
Further enquiries, please contact:
Martin Gray
Head of Lead Advisory Grant Thornton New Zealand
T +64 (0)9-308-2983
M +64 (0)21 658 269
E martin.gray@nz.gt.com