Ernst & Young says its latest survey shows the number of businesses confident enough to consider making acquisitions has jumped by 7% in the last six months.
Its latest Australasian Capital Confidence Barometer says 31% of New Zealand companies intend to pursue an acquisition in the next year, which is up from 24% in April.
Ernst & Young New Zealand's head of Transactions Advisory Services Andrew Taylor says that businesses' confidence is on the rise, both in terms of growth and ability to make future acquisitions.
But Mr Taylor says it's not a situation like the asset bubble that was in place before the global financial crisis.
He says lenders, both banks and non-banking organisations, are relatively cautious in terms of the level of leverage they'll apply to corporates and other investors.
Mr Taylor says there is also a more realistic price expectation from both vendors and purchasers.
He says there is a developing view that 2014 will be a year which will change how things have been for the past seven or so years.
