S'pore tops South-east Asia in deal activity

BIG-MONEY deals, several of them led by state-owned Temasek Holdings and GIC, drove Singapore to South- east Asia's top spot in terms of corporate activity at the year's six-month finish line.

Singapore was the star performer, closing 143 of a total of 255 deals recorded by three key markets including Malaysia and Indonesia, according to American Appraisal, a global valuation and advisory firm, in its latest report. Malaysia and Indonesia experienced a tepid first half.

In terms of value, Singapore took centrestage as well, closing deals worth US$18.7 billion, over 80 per cent of total deals cut in all three markets of US$22.7 billion.