London, 3 March, 2020 — Six out of ten companies that sold portions of their business in 2019 lost shareholder value, according to Willis Towers Watson’s Divestment Performance Monitor (DPM), in partnership with Cass Business School.
Based on share price performance, companies actively engaged in divestment deals in 2019 underperformed the Global Index by an average of -6.3pp (percentage points). This is the second worst year since the database was launched in 2010 and only fractionally better than 2018, the worst year on record with an underperformance of -6.5pp.
The latest data show that the performance of divestitures in the second half of 2019 was negative with a performance of -6.1pp lower than the index. Although this is an improvement compared to the first six months of last year (-7.1pp), divestments have now on average failed to add value for six consecutive years.
The study also shows that acquirers of divested assets, which managed to outperform their industry benchmarks by an average of +1pp in the first six months of 2019, found the second half of the year much more challenging and underperformed by -12.7pp.
Deal volume in the second half of 2019 (320) was high compared to the first six months of the year (251). This is consistent with every second half period since 2010 and last year was due to a significant upsurge in deals in both Europe and Asia Pacific. Despite this increased activity, the total number of deals completed in 2019 (571) is a record low since 2010.
“Even in the most difficult years, over 40% of companies have managed to add shareholder value following a divestment. These companies have understood the time, complexity and cost involved that allow sellers to approach a deal from a position of strength and command the highest price for the asset,”
Jana Mercereau,
M&A Practice Leader for Great Britain at Willis Towers Watson
“During the past 10 years, in the wake of the financial crisis, we have seen that divesting assets has been challenging for many companies in terms of their share price performance,” said Jana Mercereau, M&A Practice Leader for Great Britain at Willis Towers Watson. “However, even in the most difficult years, over 40% of companies have still managed to add shareholder value following a divestment. These companies have understood the time, complexity and cost involved – from implementing thorough due diligence to navigating often overlooked people issues – that allow sellers to approach a deal from a position of strength and command the highest price for the asset.”
Insights from the data, which looks at companies selling portions of a parent company to both listed companies and private equity buyers, include:
Mercereau said: “Despite the dip in deal volume, the uncertainty of tariffs, geopolitical concerns and shareholder pressure, companies will continue to divest, driven by the need to streamline their operating models in order to pursue new growth opportunities. At the same time of highlighting the scale of the challenge companies face in order to divest well in such difficult conditions, the data also point to where sellers are successfully bucking the negative global trend. A disciplined and rigorous approach to the complex separation process will help to attract better buyers, position the remaining business for future growth and drive shareholder value.”
Willis Towers Watson’s M&A practice combines our expertise in risk and human capital to offer a full range of M&A services and solutions covering all stages of the M&A process. We have particular expertise in the areas of planning, due diligence, risk transfer and post transaction integration, areas that define the success of any transaction.
Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has 45,000 employees serving in more than 140 countries and markets. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimise benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas — the dynamic formula that drives business performance. Together, we unlock potential. Learn more at willistowerswatson.com.
1 The MSCI World Index is used as default, unless stated otherwise and median performance used throughout.
2 The global database analyses the share price performance of companies selling assets, from six months prior to the divestment announcement to up to six months after the divestment has completed.
