International business report
The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) is an annual survey of the views of senior executives in privately held businesses all over the world. Launched in 1992 in nine European countries the report now surveys over 7,200 PHBs in 36 economies providing insights on the economic and commercial issues affecting a sector often described as the "engine" of the world's economy.
What's new
IBR 2011—Food and beverage
Food and beverage: Managing through uncertainty. Privately held businesses in the food and beverage sector are less confident than those in other sectors about their economic prospects.
IBR 2011—Optimism
Optimism: Despite the significant drop in optimism in Canada, businesses in the country still rank as the sixth most optimistic in the 39 economy survey.
IBR 2011—Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions: global prospects for growth. Backed by stronger credit and equity markets going into 2011, privately held businesses (PHBs)show renewed confidence about their M&A plans as the global economy gradually emerges from the downturn.
IBR 2011—Mining hot topic: government intervention
Mining: The mining sector faces an uncertain future. Increasing and unpredictable government intervention across the globe is adding further complexity to a sector that is already heavily laden with risk.
International business report—2011
IBR 2011—Food and beverage
Food and beverage: Managing through uncertainty. Privately held businesses in the food and beverage sector are less confident than those in other sectors about their economic prospects.
IBR 2011—Optimism
Optimism: Despite the significant drop in optimism in Canada, businesses in the country still rank as the sixth most optimistic in the 39 economy survey.
IBR 2011—Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions: global prospects for growth. Backed by stronger credit and equity markets going into 2011, privately held businesses (PHBs)show renewed confidence about their M&A plans as the global economy gradually emerges from the downturn.
IBR 2011—Mining hot topic: government intervention
Mining: The mining sector faces an uncertain future. Increasing and unpredictable government intervention across the globe is adding further complexity to a sector that is already heavily laden with risk.
International business report—2010
IBR 2010—global sector trends
Technology: was a pretty dismal year for the technology sector as businesses and governments around the world delayed repairs and purchases due to the difficult economic situation. The good news is that the outlook for 2010 looks positive in the short term as the drive for efficiencies boosts demand for technologies that help businesses to cut costs.
IBR 2010—global sector trends
Financial services: The financial services sector found itself at the centre of the economic storm, sparked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. While the government bailouts that followed saved some of the major players in the sector, the regulatory measures introduced have been severe. And the regulatory upheaval in the financial services sector looks likely to shape the future of this sector for many years to come.
IBR 2010—global sector trends
Food and beverage: The food and beverage sector did not escape the financial turmoil of the past 12 months, although some sub-sectors suffered more than others. As the global economy improves, and consumer demand recovers, so too should the food and beverage sector.
IBR 2010—global sector trends
Construction and real estate: The construction and real estate sector suffered like many others during the global economic downturn. However, once confidence returns, the level of investment will increase and businesses within the sector will emerge stronger from the downturn.
IBR 2010—global sector trends
Cleantech: The effects of the economic downturn did not pass the sector by, but both mature and developing economy governments are assigning large proportions of their budgets to the sector, making the future look bright for businesses within the sector.
IBR 2010—global sector trends
Hospitality: 2009 was a year of almost unparalleled turmoil in the hospitality sector with global international travel declining by an estimated 4.7 per cent across the year. However, the strength of the recovery in emerging markets, coupled with a growing and increasingly wealthy middle class who can afford foreign travel, is helping the sector.
IBR 2010—Mergers and aquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions: prospects for global recovery. This edition of the International Business Report 2010 focuses on how mergers and aquisitions continue to be a key source for growth for privately held businesses around the globe, despite the economic downturn experienced in 2009.
IBR 2010—Emerging markets
Emerging markets: leading the way. This edition of the International Business Report 2010 focuses on the importance of the emerging markets to the world economy, specifically highlighting their investment opportunies to businesses worldwide.
IBR 2010—Country focus series
Focus on: Canada. This edition of the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) 2010 focuses on Canada—the experiences and attitudes of our privately held businesses (PHBs), how they have been affected by the economic crisis and how they are dealing with recovery.
International business report—2009
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Health and education - privately held businesses in the health and education sector were markedly less confident regarding economic prospects in 2009 than they were in 2008. However, this sector is the most optimistic of all the eight sectors examines in the series.
IBR 2009—Tax
Tax: higher rates on the horizon. This 2009 IBR focuses on the issue of tax in 36 participating economies—Canada among them. Specific tax issues focused on in this report are “the most burdensome aspects of taxation” and “those aspects of taxation regimes that influence choice of location the most when establishing a foreign base.”
IBR 2009—Country focus series
Focus on: Canada. The IBR 2009 country focus series provides details on how Canada’s fairing in the global economy, along with a summary of some of the main concerns and challenges privately held businesses are facing today.
IBR 2009—Global overview
Privately held businesses: the lifeblood of the global economy. The IBR 2009 global overview provides a complete summary of this year's IBR survey results, which focused on a variety of research topics including mergers and acquisitions, business planning, succession and raising finance.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Manufacturing - privately held businesses in the manufacturing sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Transport - privately held businesses in the transport sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Construction and real estate - privately held businesses in the construction and real estate sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Technology - privately held businesses in the technology sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Hospitality - privately held businesses in the hospitality sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Retail - privately held businesses in the retail sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Sector focus series
Financial services - privately held businesses in the financial services sector are markedly less confident regarding economic prospects for the year ahead than they were in 2008.
IBR 2009—Looking beyond the global downturn
Mergers and aquisitions - despite the current tightening of lending policy and uncertain economic outlook, privately held businesses retain a surprisingly robust attitude to deals over the next three years.
IBR 2009—Navigating the global downturn
Business planning - business planning for privately held businesses has never been as important as it is today, and those who successfully plan for the medium to long term will be the ones competing as market leaders in the years ahead.
International business report—2008
IBR 2008—Global overview
The financial turmoil of the past year dramatically changed the plans and outlook for privately held businesses the world over. Businesses will need to make fundamental changes to their strategies and how they assess risks and opportunities.
IBR 2008—Corporate social responsibility
A neccessity not a choice - CSR is becoming increasingly important and the changing behaviour of the privately held business sector that is likely to make the greatest impact on global corporate social responsibility. Businesses that are responsive, quick and innovative will be the ones who not only survive the change, but emerge as winners.
IBR 2008—Emerging markets
Reshaping the global economy - with many privately held businesses around the world no longer able to operate domestically without reference to foreign markets, many will have to fundamentally change the way they assess opportunities and sources of competition on a global scale.
IBR 2008—Recruitment and retention
The quest for the right talent - a focus on recruitment and retention of staff is essential for today’s privately held businesses. With competitiveness devised from talent, it follows that recruitment and retention are not just human resource issues but an important part of business strategy.
IBR 2008—Mergers and acquisitions
Opportunities for global growth - global mergers and acquisitions have become a reality of life for all kinds of companies and findings show that privately held businesses remain confident about undertaking acquisitions over the next three years.
