Selling activity among companies in Asia expected to rise: EY

SELLING activity among companies in Asia is expected to increase in the next year as they look to improve performance and shareholder returns, said a new study released by audit and advisory group Ernst & Young, or EY as it is now known.

EY's Global Corporate Divestment Study 2015 found that 60 per cent of executives in Asia-Pacific expect the number of strategic sellers to increase in the next year, compared to 54 per cent globally.

Some 47 per cent of companies in Asia expect the number of unsolicited approaches to increase in the next year.

And 38 per cent of companies in the region say that even if they were not looking to divest, they would be willing to sell at a premium of 20 per cent or above. Another 31 per cent are willing to do so within the 20 per cent premium range.