Asia-Pacific M&A reaches $459.3 billion

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) volume in the Asia Pacific region, excluding Japan, reached $469.3 billion in the first nine months this year and India has emerged as the fourth most targeted nation, a report says.

According to global deal tracking firm Dealogic, Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) targeted M&A volume increased 36 per cent to $469.3 billion in the January-September period, the highest first 9-month volume on record.

China was again the most targeted nation for the 11th consecutive year-on-year period, accounting for 37 per cent of total M&A transactions in the region, and 45 per cent of total deal volume in the first nine months this year.
 

China was followed by Australia, South Korea and India, in the second, third and fourth places in terms of M&A volume.

Year-on-year, all three nations (Australia, South Korea and India) have registered a 25 per cent or more growth and together they accounted for 35 per cent of the deal volume.

A sector-wise analysis shows that real estate topped the chart with deals worth $73.7 billion, up 23 per cent over the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, the global mergers and acquisitions activity reached $2.80 trillion in the first nine months of 2014, up 34 per cent on the same period in 2013.

According to Dealogic, $2.80 trillion is the highest first nine months volume since 2007, when transactions worth $3.59 trillion were announced.

"Global M&A volume reached $2.80 trillion in the first nine months of 2014, up 34 per cent on $2.09 trillion in the same 2013," Dealogic said.

A region-wise analysis shows Americas accounted for 53 per cent of global volume ($1.49 trillion) of which $1.31 trillion was US targeted.

Meanwhile, EMEA accounted for 28 per cent of total M&A ($782 billion) and Asia Pacific M&A held a 19 per cent share ($526.3 bn), the report added.