Dealmaking slows amid travel curbs and valuation gaps

Singapore

WHILE merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Singapore has slowed this year, industry watchers expect more special-situation transactions, promoter-led privatisations, private equity-led buyouts and restructurings of companies to unfold in the remaining months.

Mergermarket data shows that in the first five months of 2020, some 108 deals valued at US$26.3 billion were completed in Southeast Asia. This is about 20 per cent lower than the same period a year ago, when 161 deals worth US$32.4 billion were done. More than half of this year's deals were done in January and February.