Business response Changing business structures provide an excellent opportunity for businesses to address both employment issues and regulatory requirements, or changes which will be a priority for global businesses in the future. Focussing on the UK market for example, from April 2017 UK law will require gender pay reporting by larger companies (with 250+ employees) which will involve companies taking a snapshot of their gender pay statistics and reporting on this on a yearly basis. The restructuring process is a good time to audit pay practices and identify steps to redress
imbalances, dealing with any legal risks identified, resolving any pay gaps and working on adjustments to alleviate any unlawful gaps. Whether as part of a proactive strategy or due to financial necessity, an increase in M&A activity over the course of the coming year is inevitable. Understanding where this will be focussed will be key to helping businesses seize opportunities and also identify what shape business restructurings and asset disposals/acquisitions might take.
There is expected to be an increase inM&A activity over the course of 2016. Do you believe this will predominantly be: 1 + 99 +E 14 + 86 +E 32 + 68 +E 1% 14% 32% Other There will not be an increase in M&A activity in 2016 Focused on company- wide activities or the entire portfolio of assets 36 + 64 +E 36% Focused on multiple specific assets or parts of companies 17 + 83 +E 17% Focused on an individual project or interest in a project
Where do you expect the majority of M&A activities to occur in the industry?
88%
Upstream (exploration & production)
Midstream (transportation, storage, wholesale marketing)
8%
Downstream (refining, processing, marketing & distribution)
4%
10
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