As one knows, M&A (mergers & acquisitions) activities have increased world-wide over the past few years. At the same time the trend has increased such that transactions are not only implemented between two businesses from the same country, but there is also an increase in the number of international takeovers and amalgamations due to the onset of globalization.

For middle-sized businesses it is getting more and more evident that it´s especially difficult to establish a new company abroad. It is essentially more expensive and produces higher risks than a co-operation, takeover, or merger with a business that is already firmly established in the target country.

Furthermore, every M&A transaction offers the possibility not only to expand horizontally and/or vertically the existing service / product portfolio, but also to advance into new markets, and these possibilities can be better utilized with international transactions.

However, at the same time many businesses are wary about taking such a step. The reasons for this depend on many different factors, and differ according to the business size and service type. In general, it can be said that, on the one hand, many businesses are unable to fulfill the particular requirements which are needed for the market research and selection of a suitable business abroad. On the other hand, the economic, legal and fiscal questions of the target country appear too mysterious.