Mergers and acquisitions forecast to rise in Asia-Pacific region
Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is poised to rise in the Asia-Pacific region during the next few years, but companies are not paying enough attention to human-resource issues, according to a study reported Monday.
Leadership assessment and cultural fit are being neglected in favour of short-term objectives during due diligence, said Hewitt Associates.
Human-resource factors hold risks to ultimate success, said the Mergers and Acquisitions Asia-Pacific Study 2006, published in The Business Times in Singapore.
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Asia M&A legal champ sees more China deals in 2006
China's mergers and acquisitions market will remain hot in the new year, but the size of individual deals may fall while the number of transactions will likely rise, a top lawyer for Clifford Chance told Reuters.
China was non-Japan Asia Pacific's biggest M&A market in 2005, topping Australia for the first time, with $65 billion in total deals, according to market data firm Dealogic.
"China we believe will remain very hot and probably be the number one market," Roger Denny, head of Asia M&A for Clifford Chance, said on Tuesday.
The size of individual
Asia-Pacific predators to lead the pack
ASIA-Pacific companies are well placed to make strategic deals over the next 12 months, according to a survey by financial services group KPMG.
It said Asia-Pacific companies in healthcare, utilities, telecommunications and basic materials were likely to be aggressors in the global mergers and acquisitions market in next six months.
But that same regions technology companies were likely to be targets for acquisition.
KPMG partner Julian Vella said that although many firms were returning capital to shareholders, rather than paying high prices for assets, positive earnings forecasts and strong debt capacity still left them with attractive
FDI confidence index: The Asia story
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is on the rise again. Overall, Asia is seen as a preferred investment destination globally, driven by the attractiveness of China and India.
However, corporate savings overhang and investor pessimism about the global economy could potentially dull the recovery of cross-border corporate investment. Asian countries should study the key learning from the experiences of China and India to competitively attract this rising FDI.
Emerging market countries in Asia are among the most attractive FDI locations in the world. In 2005, Asia FDI inflows reached US$156 billion, an unprecedented $49 billion increase
Ramsay eyes Asia after lift
AUSTRALIA'S biggest private hospital operator, Ramsay Health Care, yesterday said it was putting feelers out for acquisitions in Asia, after unveiling an 80 per cent rise in interim net profits.
Managing director Pat Grier said that the company's strong cash flow and falling debt had allowed it to begin scouring for potential takeover targets in Asia, followed by Britain.
He said management was keen to "build capacity" in Indonesia - where Ramsay already has a small portfolio of three hospitals - as well as seek out small "bolt-on" acquisitions.
The company booked a better than expected interim
Russia Gas Exports to Asia-Pacific to Rise
About one-quarter of Russia's gas exports will go to the Asia-Pacific region as of 2020, compared with about 5 percent today, and the proportion of Russian oil exports to the region will increase tenfold from 3 percent to 30 percent, Russia's industry and energy minister said Monday.
Russian gas supplies to China may reach 68 billion cubic meters by that year, being pumped through two pipelines beginning in 2011, Minister Viktor Khristenko said.
"The 'eastern trend' in the framework of energy strategy and policy is an adequate response to the global challenges and risks facing
