Deal activity in Asia-Pacific fell 3.4% in April from a year ago as tariff-related uncertainties and geopolitical risks create a murky outlook for M&A in the region, an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis shows.
Key highlights from the analysis include:
- Total deal count fell to 719 from 744 transactions in April 2024, dragged down by steep declines in the technology, media and telecommunications and consumer sectors, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence on a best-efforts basis.
- The number of technology, media and telecommunications deals fell to 82 from 147, while deals in the consumer sector fell to 71 from 113, more than offsetting increases seen in other sectors such as healthcare, where the count more than doubled to 51 from 19.
- The aggregate transaction value of announced deals plunged to $18.70 billion, the lowest level in at least 16 months, data show.
- M&A activity also fell 22.5% year over year in the industrials sector, while the decline in the financials sector was more modest, at 14%.
- The total deal count in mainland China rose 17.5% year over year to 181 in April, including some of the largest deals by value. India, another major economy in the region, also saw its deal count increase by 4.3% to 96 in April. Hong Kong added two of the 10 largest deals in April.
- Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.’s acquisition of Singapore-based Abbot Point Port Holdings Pte. Ltd. for $2.07 billion ranked as the largest M&A deal in Asia-Pacific in April.
Source: S&P Analysis