ADDING VALUE THROUGH MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Abstract

Many market commentators are forecasting increased corporate merger and acquisition activity in the Australian oil and gas sector. This activity presents industry participants with significant opportunities to increase shareholder value.

An effectively designed acquisition approach (business process) assists in establishing strategic objectives to maximise value and returns to a company. Steps in a structured process include assessing the acquirer’s strengths and weaknesses, defining the strategy, identifying the range of possible targets and evaluating the preferred target prior to negotiating and completing the acquisition.

Observed market evidence supports the theoretical notion that market participants determine the value of E&P companies with primary reference to the NAV (DCF) methodology. The benefits of this valuation methodology are that it attempts to rigorously capture the effect of large changes in production over time and the irregular nature of E&P companies’ capital expenditure programs.

Effective due diligence supports the decision-making process by identifying the risk factors that can make or break a deal and assists to clarify the transaction whilst effective structuring of the acquisition will minimise value-loss through tax leakages etc.