Companies Better At Buying Businesses, Survey Says

ByJohn S. McClenahen Some 52% of executives in large companies surveyed by Accenture, a global management consulting firm, say their firms have been more successful in acquiring business units than they have been in selling them. Only 24% of the CEOs, chairpersons, executive vice presidents and other executives report they have been more successful at divestment than acquisition. Some 33% of those surveyed say the most important reason for selling a business unit is that it is detracting from bottom-line performance. Other reasons include raising cash to pay down debt and refocusing on core capabilities. The survey, conducted during November 2002, shows 50% of the executives reporting their companies had sold business units during the previous 18 months and 25% reporting they had not gotten the price they wanted.