Asian M&A deals volume drop 54% to $16.7 bn in Jan

The volume of Asia targeted merger and acquisition deals more than halved to $16.7 billion in January 2009, while Indian firm Quippo Telecom's $1.3 billion acquisition of 49 per cent stake in Wireless Tata Telecom is among the top three deals in the region.

"Asia, excluding Japan, targeted M&A volume totalled $16.7 billion (Rs 81,702 crore) in January 2009, down 54 per cent from $36.1 billion in January 2008 and accounted for five per cent of global M&A," according to deal tracking firm Dealogic.

The average deal size has declined by 25 per cent to just $43 million in January 2009 from $57 million in January last year, it added.

 

China has emerged as the most targeted nation in the Asian region with $6 billion in M&A volume and accounted for 36 per cent of Asia (ex-Japan) M&A volume.

The contribution of China in the Asia deal space has increased from 30 per cent in January last year.

Top five M&A deals announced last month include South Korean KT Corp's 46 per cent stake acquisition of KT Freetel for $1.8 billion and 71 per cent stake of Singapore-based United Industrial for $1.6 billion.

Indian M&A deal of Quippo Telecom picking up 49 per cent stake in Wireless Tata Telecom Infrastructure for $1.3 billion is third largest in January in Asia.