M&A Activity in Manufacturing Sector Lowest in 18 Years, Memoori Says
A chief reason for the volatility is that within the last five-year cycle there has been at least one major multibillion deal per year, but none so far in 2020.
STOCKHOLM — The value of mergers and acquisitions in the physical security manufacturing industry fell to approximately $2.91 billion in 2019, according to Memoori Research.
The decrease in M&A activity is almost the lowest that Memoori — led by James McHale who is managing director, owner and founder of the firm — has recorded in the past 18 years.
The main reason for the volatility is that within the last five-year cycle there has been at least one major multibillion acquisition per year, but not one this year, the research firm details in an announcement. Therefore, Memoori posits, in the video surveillance sector there is a need for western companies to build up scale to compete against the Chinese suppliers, despite few opportunities to do so.
Additional details from Memoori follows:
The industry underwent a major restructuring during the period 2009 to 2011 after the 2008 financial crisis. Around that period a lack of confidence (and/or interest) by some major conglomerates caused them to divest their physical security product businesses. More recently there has also been a lack of buyers from outside the business, particularly defense and IT.
However private equity has retained a significant interest in the physical security industry, and this year it acquired two companies investing some $200 million, which is a modest sum compared with previous years.
Competition has heightened and profit margins have fallen in some sectors of the physical security business in the last 3 years, but the industry has performed well, but still has scope for consolidation and the potential for growth in the business at a CAGR of 7% over the next 5 years.
Within the last 7 years there has been a significant trend for medium-sized specialist companies previously totally dependent on organic growth to adopt strategic acquisition to speed up growth. These companies are much more focused within one of the 3 product sectors (Access Control, Video Surveillance, Intruder/Perimeter Protection) and this is having a significant and beneficial impact on strengthening the structure of the market.
The structure of the industry is still very fragmented with hundreds of small companies finding it increasingly difficult to compete and it looks inevitable that the general trend line of value and volume of mergers and acquisitions will regain its momentum over the next 5 years but at a more modest growth than in peak years.
To achieve a new wave of M&A growth in 2020, it will require a number of billion dollar deals and there is not an abundance of companies of this size. However we believe there will be more acquisitions in the fast growing AI Video Analytics business, along with deals in the cloud services category for video surveillance and access control; sufficient for M&A activity to grow to 2024.
More detail about the breakdown of the different types of products that are attracting acquisitions and the companies that have a history of adopting M&A for strategic planning can be found in Memoori’s 2019 World Survey of the Physical Security Industry.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
