Research Highlights

The report provides a detailed understanding and analysis of how and why companies enter M&A deals, which legislative and regulatory policies are promoting M&A activities, and how APAC investors are growing their presence in developed economies, undeterred by policy uncertainties. It also highlights the growing influence of non-traditional players in the life science space and their impact in steering the direction of M&A activity of the traditional players. It further brings out the growing acceptance of digital revenue streams, an under-explored opportunity in connected health. The exponential growth of private equity (PE) investors, and their appetite to invest in high-risk areas, has also allowed unlocking of the potential of several new technologies, creating a ripe environment for corporate acquisitions. At the same time, PE investors’ ability to bid for higher value deals has created competition for the same targets, often outbidding corporate investors.

This study dives deeper into each stakeholder segment to uncover their unique M&A dynamics and chart the activity of top 10 companies in each segment. Several biopharma companies have relied on smaller acquisitions to bolster their R&D pipelines, whereas several others have sought high-value deals to merge or acquire competitor companies in order to achieve critical mass in R&D and ensure continued growth and dominance in the global marketplace. Contract service organizations (CSO) are experiencing the highest rate of consolidation, with the goal of emerging as one-stop-shop solution providers. However, CSOs will soon have to think beyond mere capacity expansion and acquire targets specialized in tangential services like supply chain and patient connectedness. Diagnostic and research tool (DRT) OEMs have experienced a different M&A trend and will have to rely more on value-add services to overcome the slump in M&A derived growth. Strategic imperatives for companies to recalibrate their business models and be future ready are provided in this study as well. Finally, the study also briefly covers growing trends in the outsourcing of innovation, production and selling, and the heightened importance of innovation hubs in promoting M&A.

Key Issues Addressed

• Which are the emerging power centers as a result of consolidation? Is there a shift in bargaining power?
• What region-specific factors are prompting M&A? Which regions are experiencing maximum inbound and outbound deals?
• Is the current rate of M&A sustainable? What will be the rate of shift towards outsourcing?
• What will be the impact of external disruptors like FAMGA on the direction of acquisitions?
• Which stakeholders are experiencing the maximum positive and negative impact of M&A?
• How are mid-sized companies aligning their strategies to survive in this increasingly consolidating space?

Author: Khushbu Jain