Accounting, tax and advisory firm CohnReznick LLP has released a new report on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the renewable energy sector in the Americas, based on a survey of more than 800 senior executives in the renewable energy industry worldwide.
The report says the U.S. is the most attractive country for investors, with almost 45% of survey respondents planning to invest in or acquire in the U.S. renewable energy sector during the next 18 months – more than double the number targeting second-place Germany. Globally, a total of 591 acquisitions valued at $37.8 billion were announced in 2012 – a 58% increase by number on the 375 deals totaling $42.1 billion announced in 2011, the report says.
Report highlights include the following:
," The Americas accounted for 42% of the total value of M&A deal activity last year.
," Wind and solar were the most active sectors, accounting for a combined 78% of the total value of all transactions.
," Solar is the most attractive sector for North American survey respondents. Some 63% of survey respondents are targeting investments or acquisitions in solar PV, which is more than the number targeting biomass (45%), onshore wind (41%) or biofuels (39%).
," Renewable energy projects are now cost-competitive with newly built fossil fuel power plants in many Latin American countries.
," Canada is now the fifth most attractive country globally for renewable energy investment, showing a significant increase of survey respondents who are targeting Canada for clean energy investments than last year.
The report was written in collaboration with Clean Energy Pipeline, a renewable energy research, data and financial news provider.
