Asia Pacific's mid-size M&A volume hits record high of USD 117.7 bn

SINGAPORE: The Asia Pacific region has witnessed a flurry of mid-size mergers and acquisitions so far this year, with the total mid-market M&A deal volume hitting a record high of USD 117.7 billion through 440 transactions.

This is 23 per cent more than last year's period up to mid-August, which saw volumes worth USD 96.1 billion, involving 359 deals, according to global deal-tracking firm Dealogic.

Globally, the mid-market volume has reached USD 468.1 billion, accounting for 25 per cent of all M&As, Dealogic said, adding that this is "highest share since 2004 YTD (29 per cent)."

Real estate and mining sectors attracted the maximum number of deals and are driving this growth in Asia Pacific, with increases of 15 per cent and 74 per cent, respectively, in volume to reach record levels.

There were USD 23.9 billion worth of deals in the real estate space, while the mining sector witnessed mid-size M&As worth USD 11.3 billion.

The report said, "Asia Pacific currently has the lowest average multiple of the world regions for mid-market M&A, compared to EMEA and the Americas."

Nomura emerged as the leading advisor for Asia Pacific mid-market M&A with USD 10.6 billion, followed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan with USD 8.9 billion and USD 8.5 billion respectively, Dealogic said.