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Recruitment and retention
The latest findings of the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) 2008 reveals that privately held businesses are more focused on recruitment and retention of staff than they were 12 months ago, while emerging economies are significantly being hardest hit by increased staff costs.

Up to 91% of mainland Chinese privately held businesses pay significantly more in staff costs than a year ago. This result places mainland China the first among all the 34 economies surveyed globally. Hong Kong has nearly seven out of ten privately held businesses reporting the same and ranks 16th on the list.

The survey found that staff shortages and an increasing awareness of the importance of people to competitiveness are driving privately held businesses to take action on recruitment and retention policies.

Merger and acquisition
IBR 2008 survey shows that despite the current turbulence in the world financial markets, 44% of privately held businesses globally are planning to grow through acquisition in the next three years and 23% of those businesses anticipate a cross border deal. 

The recent tightening of lending policy and an uncertain economic outlook has had an impact on transactions at the top end of the market, but the findings of the IBR 2008 shows that privately held businesses remain confident about undertaking acquisitions over the next three years. They see domestic and international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a key strategic tool to drive growth.

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The latest focus report applies findings of IBR 2008, as well as identifying the major difficulties regarding staffing and key plans for the growth amongst privately held businesses. It provides insights into the issues affecting them in the global recruitment & retention, and M&A arena.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of either the recruitment and retention report or the merger and acquisition report, please contact us via info@gthk.com.hk

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