Inorganic growth

Inorganic growth is a type of business growth that involves expanding operations outside of the typical organic, internal growth of the business. This could include the acquisition of other businesses, merging with other companies, or entering into new markets or countries. Inorganic growth strategies can be risky and expensive, as they involve a lot of upfront capital. This type of growth requires careful management and planning, as it requires a company to adjust to new markets, products or customers. Inorganic growth also requires extensive research and due diligence to ensure that the company is making the best decision for the business.

Example of inorganic growth

• An example of inorganic growth is a company acquiring another business. This type of growth can create a larger company with increased market share, new products and services, and a larger customer base. For example, in 2018, IBM acquired Red Hat, a provider of open source software solutions, in a deal valued at $34 billion. This allowed IBM to expand its software capabilities, move into the cloud computing market, and expand its customer base.
• Another example of inorganic growth is merging with another company. This type of growth can help companies save costs and create a larger, more competitive business. For example, in 2017, American Airlines and US Airways merged in a deal valued at $11 billion. This allowed the two companies to combine their operations, routes, and customer base, creating the world’s largest airline at the time.
• A third example of inorganic growth is entering into new markets or countries. This type of growth can help companies access new customers, expand their product offerings, and increase their market share. For example, in 2018, Amazon entered India, the world’s second-largest online market, by launching Amazon.in. This allowed Amazon to access a large customer base and expand its product offerings across India.

When to use inorganic growth

Inorganic growth can be used in a variety of situations, such as:

• Entering new markets or industries: Inorganic growth can help a company expand into new markets or industries quickly, giving them access to new customers and revenue streams.
• Increasing market share: By acquiring other businesses or entering into a merger, a company can quickly increase its market share and become a dominant player in the industry.
• Increasing customer base: By entering into a merger or acquisition, a company can quickly increase its customer base, giving them access to a larger customer base.
• Diversifying products and services: Through acquisitions and mergers, a company can expand its product and service offerings, allowing them to offer a wider range of products and services to their customers.
• Access to new technology: By acquiring or merging with another company, a company can gain access to new technology, allowing them to stay ahead of their competitors.

Types of inorganic growth

Inorganic growth is a type of business growth that involves expanding operations outside of the typical organic, internal growth of the business. Common types of inorganic growth include acquisitions, strategic alliances, mergers, joint ventures, and market expansion.

• Acquisitions involve a company buying another business or company, which can give the company access to a larger market, new products, customers, or services.
• Strategic alliances are partnerships between two or more companies that allow them to benefit from each other's resources and expertise.
• Mergers involve two separate companies combining to form a single entity. This can be beneficial for both companies, as it allows them to reduce costs and share resources.
• Joint ventures are partnerships between two or more companies that combine resources to create a new business.
• Market expansion involves entering into new markets or countries. This can be beneficial for a company as it allows them to increase their reach and customer base.

Steps of inorganic growth

Inorganic growth involves a variety of steps to ensure successful expansion of a business. These steps include:

• Identifying a potential target: This involves researching potential acquisition targets, such as competitors or businesses in a related field, and assessing their financial and operational strengths and weaknesses.
• Conducting due diligence: This involves conducting a thorough review of the target company's financial and operational performance, as well as any legal or regulatory issues that could impact the proposed transaction.
• Negotiating the deal: This involves negotiating the terms of the deal, such as the price, payment structure, and other legal and financial considerations.
• Completing the transaction: This involves completing the necessary paperwork and filing the necessary paperwork with the relevant regulatory bodies.
• Integrating the target company: This involves integrating the target company into the acquiring company's existing operations and ensuring that all employees are properly trained and onboarded.
• Managing the post-acquisition period: This involves monitoring and managing the performance of the newly acquired business and ensuring that the integration was successful.

Advantages of inorganic growth

Inorganic growth provides many advantages for businesses, including:

• Increased Market Share: Acquiring another company or entering into new markets can quickly expand a company’s reach and share of the market. This can open up new opportunities and provide greater opportunities for growth and success.
• Bolstered Resources: Merging with other companies or entering into new markets can also provide access to new resources, such as technology, infrastructure, and personnel. This can help a company become more efficient, increase production, and develop new products more quickly.
• Increased Profitability: Inorganic growth strategies can also help increase a company’s profitability by providing access to new customers and markets. This can also result in greater economies of scale, which can help keep costs down and increase profits.
• Increased Access to Capital: Inorganic growth can also provide access to new sources of capital, such as venture capital or debt financing, which can help a company finance its growth and expansion.

Limitations of inorganic growth

Inorganic growth can be a great way for businesses to expand quickly and access new markets, but there are some potential limitations that should be considered. These include:

• High Financial Risk – Inorganic growth strategies involve a lot of upfront capital and can be risky for a company’s finances. It is important to carefully assess the potential returns from an inorganic growth strategy to make sure it is a wise investment.
• Difficulty with Integration – Merging with or acquiring other businesses can be difficult, as the two companies need to find a way to combine their operations and integrate their cultures. This can be a lengthy process that requires a lot of time and effort.
• Loss of Control – When a company acquires or merges with another business, it can be difficult to maintain control over the operations of the business. This can lead to a lack of oversight and a loss of efficiency.
• Loss of Focus – With inorganic growth, companies can become too focused on expanding and lose sight of their core business. This can lead to a lack of focus on the products and services that made the company successful in the first place.

Other approaches related to inorganic growth

In addition to inorganic growth, there are several other approaches to business growth that involve expanding operations outside of the typical organic, internal growth of the business. These include:

• Strategic partnerships: Forming strategic partnerships with other companies in order to gain access to new markets, resources, and expertise.
• Licensing agreements: These agreements allow companies to use the intellectual property of another company in exchange for a fee.
• Franchising: Franchising is a type of business model where a company grants a license to an individual or entity to operate a business that is affiliated with the company.
• Mergers and acquisitions: This type of growth strategy involves combining two or more businesses into one entity, with the intention of creating a larger, more efficient company.

Overall, inorganic growth is just one of many possible approaches to business growth. Companies should weigh the costs and benefits of each strategy before making a decision, as each approach can come with its own risks and rewards.

Inorganic growth — recommended articles

Brown field investment — Corporate venture capital — International joint venture — Venture capital investments — International business strategy — Types of acquisition — Tuck-In Acquisition — Strategic Buyer — Diversification in business

References

• Hammer, B., Knauer, A., Pflücke, M., & Schwetzler, B. (2017). Inorganic growth strategies and the evolution of the private equity business model. Journal of Corporate Finance, 45, 31-63.