[May 15, 2017] |
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Tried and tested vs. expanding and emerging markets: Where are US-businesses looking to expand and invest in 2017/18?
Although outbound FDI from the US is forecast to fall in 2017,
US-based multinationals still see investment outside the US market as
central to their corporate growth plans - according to new research from
TMF Group, a global provider of corporate and administrative services,
and Forbes Insights.
The study 'Venture Further: what drives international expansion
and investment by US businesses?' canvassed the views of 250
US-based C-Suite Executives to explore the motivations and challenges of
US-headquartered multinationals in taking their organization into a new
international market. Respondents were drawn from a wide selection of
industries and from organizations with annual revenues ranging in size
from $250 million to over $5 billion.
Respondents were asked into what regions their organizations had
invested in the last two years, as well as where they planned to invest
in 2017/18.
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The results showed that the developed economies of Northern and
Western Europe (including France, Germany, the UK and Ireland) as
well as the rest of North America (i.e. Canada) remain the most
favoured destinations for investment over the next two years for half
of the businesses surveyed, .though that represents a notable decline
from even higher investment activity levels over the preceding two
years.
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Despite the FDI downturn, the emerging markets of South America
also remain a destination of choice for over a third (36.4%).
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However, a significant uplift in interest was recorded for Australia
and New Zealand, potentially a precursor for resurgent sentiment
toward the Asia Pacific (APAC) region with 9.2% more respondents
saying that they would invest in the region over the next two years
than had done over the last two years.
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A smaller increase (+3.2%), but still one that bucked the global
downward trend, was also recorded for Eastern Europe, where a
number of markets are emerging as nascent innovation and technology
hubs
In addition, the survey asked what motivated US-businesses to explore
new foreign markets and what challenges they had faced.
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The most common motivators were to open new markets and gain market
share (45.6%) and expand existing operations (42%).
However, just over a quarter were looking for new resources to enhance
their business: to find new talent and skills (28.8%) and new
sources of capital (26.8%).
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Having entered a foreign market, there was some uniformity across
respondents in the challenges they faced. Getting the business
established with banking and accounting records (31.6%), identifying
premises and/or a process agent (31.2%) and selecting and
incorporating the right entity type (30%).
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Additional issues were presented in finding and providing official
evidence of a company's 'good standing' (28.8%) and complying
with local data protection and privacy laws (28.4%).
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Contrary to much of the current conventional wisdom, only 12% of
C-Suite Executives surveyed cited cost-saving as a motivator
for international investment/expansion, hinting that cost-driven
offshoring may have largely run its course.
Commenting on the key findings, Raimundo Diaz, Regional Head of the
Americas for TMF Group, said: "It's encouraging to note that, while
overall outbound FDI may drop slightly, US-businesses are still actively
exploring new markets to pursue their corporate growth.
"After all, the world is full of business opportunities; new markets to
enter, new demand to satisfy. Companies are only limited by their
ambition."
He continued: "Of course, the challenge of getting established in a new
market will be more or less complex according to jurisdiction:
everything from selecting and incorporating a new entity, establishing
banking and accounting processes and records to complying with local
data protection laws. Detailed market knowledge is vital."
Reflecting on their experiences respondents were asked if they could
give a peer - considering international investment or expansion - one
piece of advice, what it would be.
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More than a third (36%) stressed the importance of research and
pre-planning: to be clear on your reasons for investment or
expansion and to thoroughly investigate and understand the territories
political, economic, social and legal landscape.
Diaz concluded: "The importance of local knowledge when entering a new
market cannot be underestimated. Whether you are looking to extend or
enhance existing operations or looking for new opportunities, it is
important to fully understand the local complexities of any given market
to make sure your operations are - and remain - fully compliant with
what could be a rapidly changing regulatory landscape."
To find out more about TMF Group and to download the full report: tmf-group.com/venturefurther.
TMF Group will also host a webinar on the Venture Further study and the
trends shaping the international investment and expansion plans of US
companies on May 31, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Participants can register by
clicking here.
NOTES TO EDITORS
TMF Group helps global companies expand and invest seamlessly
across international borders. Its expert accountants, legal, HR and
payroll professionals located around the world assist clients with their
corporate structures, finance vehicles and investments. With business
services offered in more than 80 countries, TMF Group is the global
expert that understands local needs. www.tmf-group.com
Forbes Insights is the strategic research and thought leadership
practice of Forbes Media. By leveraging proprietary databases of
senior-level executives in the Forbes community, Forbes Insights
conducts research on a host of topics of interest to C-level executives,
senior marketing professionals, small business owners and those who
aspire to positions of leadership, as well as providing deep insights
into issues and trends surrounding wealth creation and wealth
management. www.forbes.com/forbesinsights/
VENTURE FURTHER: What drives international expansion and investment
by US businesses?
In March 2017, TMF Group - in association with Forbes Insights -
canvassed the views (via an online poll) of 250 C-suite Executives from
US-headquartered multinational companies to understand their motivations
and challenges in taking their organization into a new international
market. The respondents were drawn from a wide selection of industries
and from organizations with annual revenues ranging in size from $250
million to over $5 billion.
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250 US-based C-Suite Executives from multinational companies: CEO,
CFO, COO and CLO.
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Nearly three-quarters of respondents (71.6%) worked for organizations
with annual revenues of over $1 billion.
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The majority (70.8%) were also responsible for overseeing operations
in more than 6 countries, while one in four (24.8%) for operations in
over 10 international markets.
Top 10 global investment and expansion
destinations for US-based multinationals in 2017/18
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2015 - 2016
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2017 - 2018
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Ranking change (2015 - 2016) / 2017 - 2018
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+ / -
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WESTERN EUROPE
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Austria, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Switzerland
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58.4%
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51.6%
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(2) / 1
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-6.8%
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NORTH AMERICA (Excl. USA)
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Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon
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59.2%
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50.0%
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(1) / 2
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-9.2%
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NORTHERN EUROPE
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Channel Islands, Ireland, Isle of Man, United Kingdom
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44.4%
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43.6%
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(3) / 3
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-0.8%
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AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
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Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos, New Zealand, Norfolk Island
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33.2%
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42.8%
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(5) / 4
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+9.6%
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SOUTH AMERICA
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Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland
Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay,
Venezuela
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39.2%
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36.4%
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(4) / 5
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-2.8%
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EASTERN EUROPE
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Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Republic of
Moldova, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine
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26.0%
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29.2%
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(10) / 6
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+3.2%
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SOUTHERN EUROPE
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Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus,
Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal,
San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Vatican City
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32.4%
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28.8%
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(7) / 7
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-3.6%
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SOUTHERN ASIA
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Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka
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32.8%
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28.0%
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(6) / 8
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-4.8%
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EASTERN ASIA
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China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (North), Korea (South), Macau,
Mongolia, Taiwan
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29.6%
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27.6%
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(8) / 9
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-2.0%
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CENTRAL AMERICA
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Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama
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28.4%
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25.6%
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(9) / 10
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-2.8%
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What motivates US business to explore new
markets?
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To open new markets and gain market share
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45.6%
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To expand existing operations / service lines
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42.0%
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To create / improve R&D and technology resources
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30.0%
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To find new talent and skills
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28.8%
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To find new sources of capital
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26.8%
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A customer contract required local presence
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24.8%
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To establish a shared service center
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23.6%
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Financial and corporate restructuring/establishment of special
purpose vehicle (SPV)
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22.8%
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To buy a competitor
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20.8%
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To decrease operational cost/operate more cost effectively
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12.0%
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Other M&A activity
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10.0%
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What are the biggest challenges that US
businesses face when entering a foreign market?
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Establishing banking and accounting measures and statutory records
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31.6%
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Identifying the right premises and / or process agent
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31.2%
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Selecting and incorporating the right entity type
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30.0%
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Finding and providing official evidence of 'good standing'
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28.8%
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Data protection considerations and privacy laws
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28.4%
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Operating within trade union and collective bargaining agreements
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28.0%
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Finding the right local talent and adhering to labor laws
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27.2%
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Rules on transfer pricing and/or repatriation of profits
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25.6%
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Appointment of local directors and/or representatives
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22.4%
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Additional licensing requirements and/or revised constitution
following merger or acquisition
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20.0%
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Rules relating to the transfer of staff from acquired/merged
operations
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20.0%
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Compatibility of local financial reporting rules with international
reporting systems and standards
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21.6%
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Intellectual property agreements and enforcement
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19.6%
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Unique cultural expectations and language barriers
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19.6%
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Rules relating to 'restricted' industries
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18.8%
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Detailed record checks of company directors (including disclosure of
ultimate beneficial owner (UBO))
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13.2%
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Antitrust or competition law
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10.4%
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With the benefit of hindsight, what one
piece of advice would US business leaders give to their peers?
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PLAN THOROUGHLY AND DO YOUR RESEARCH
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Be clear on your reasons for investment/expansion and don't make
false assumptions about a local market. Make sure that you
investigate the territory's political, legal and cultural
environment, as well as the competitive landscape, target market
and/or workforce.
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36.0%
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CONSIDER JOINT VENTURES AND ACQUISITIONS
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Consider joint ventures and acquisitions. One way to avoid some of
the effort, cost and risk of setting up in a new territory is to buy
an existing operation or create a joint venture with an existing
operation. However, these options come with their own risks and
professional assistance should be sought.
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23.6%
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CONSIDER A SINGLE SUPPLIER TO MANAGE YOUR MULTI-TERRITORY
RELATIONSHIPS
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One of the key issues in managing expansion is the gathering,
processing and reconciliation of operations, financial and legal
data across multiple territories. Using a single strategic supplier
to handle these as outsourced functions could help provide
consistency across processes and standards.
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18.8%
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GET HELP FROM THIRD PARTIES
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Local service providers, chambers of commerce and advisors are
invaluable, particularly when creating a new legal entity,
recruiting and training staff and setting up your back-office
function.
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10.8%
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CONSIDER OUTSOURCING
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Don't under-estimate the operating costs in a local market. The
boundary between what you do in-house and what you outsource should
remain fluid, and be constantly reassessed over time.
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10.8%
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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170515005187/en/
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