Beyond The Obvious

Consumer habits are evolving at an unprecedented pace, reshaping M&A activity in the sector worldwide. Companies are using acquisitions to capture growth, enter new markets, and acquire on-trend brands, while divesting slower-growing assets.
 
Charles Gournay, Managing Director, Greenhill Consumer & Retail London, explores how societal shifts, technology and macro trends are influencing consumer behavior and driving global M&A strategy. Learn how a combined global perspective across the U.S., Europe and Asia helps companies navigate this dynamic sector.
 
Tune in for analysis on the current state of consumer M&A and what it means for companies worldwide.
 
Discover expert insights and global perspectives from Mizuho | Greenhill, your bank for M&A.

What is Beyond The Obvious?

In Mizuho | Greenhill’s Beyond The Obvious podcast channel, we uncover the value that others miss.

Our podcast is a source for the latest discussions on topics related to capital markets, dealmaking activity, business leadership and more.

Delve into insights from our investment & corporate banking thought leaders to hear their unique perspectives on current trends and market influences.

Learn how industry icons and influential figures began their journeys, overcame adversity and rose to success.

Discover insights that look deeper.

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If you think about what consumer

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companies want to do is achieve

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growth, and they do that by

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following where the consumer goes.

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The result of that is companies

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to adapt to that have to

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use M&A as a tool

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to be able to follow those

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consumer changes.

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And they use M&A to

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typically acquire brands or assets that

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will give them faster growth, because

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those are to enter a new

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and faster growing category, which is

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suddenly on trend, to enter a

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region or a country where they

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have no presence, but the growth

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potential is significant, or simply to

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acquire a brand which is more

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on trend and faster growing than

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the other brands in their portfolio.

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And on the flip side, they

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would regularly, consumer companies, they would

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regularly sell assets or brands that

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are not meeting their growth expectations.

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Consumer trends are regularly changing, and

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they're changing as a result of

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a number of factors.

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Actually, pretty much everything we're seeing

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in our daily life is affecting

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those consumer changes in behavior.

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They are changing because there are

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societal changes, they are changing because

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of technological trends or they're changing

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because of macro sentiment.

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Talking about health and wellness, for

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instance, that has been a huge

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trend ongoing for decades now.

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And as a result of that,

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what you've seen is part of

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the consumer industry, some segments have

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been growing much faster.

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Think about nutrition, think about any

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type of better-for-you beverages,

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think about supplements, and consumer companies

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would want to actually jump on

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the bandwagon, follow those trends and

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therefore be acquirers of companies that

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are driving those faster growths.

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We are able to bring truly global

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perspectives to our clients.

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And ultimately, this is a global sector.