Mergers and acquisitions deals in Asia are reaching record levels according to the latest statistics from Dealogic, with India joining the exclusive club of movers and shakers in the region.
According to Dealogic, in the first half of 2007 alone, US$253 billion was spent on M&A deals, up 50% on the second half of 2006.
The figures, which exclude Japan, place Australia at the top of the deals chart, followed by China, and place India third in the region.
India saw M&A transactions worth US$39 billion in the first six months of this year.
Some of the largest deals involving India were Vodafone Group’s US$12.9 billion acquisition of a 67% stake in Hutchison Essar, Tata Steel’s US$12 billion purchase of Corus, and Hindalco’s US$5.9 billion deal with Canada’s Novelis Inc.
Private equity accounted for 11% of the deal activity in the first half compared to 8% a year earlier.
Globally, private equity funds account for 20% of M&A deals.
