Regional M&A activity picking up as US, Europe markets recover

DEAL activity in South-east Asia is showing nascent signs of a recovery, and market players see signs that 2023 may end better than it started on the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) front.

M&A activity has spiked in the US and European markets in the last couple of months, thanks to lower equity market volatility and a return of initial public offerings, said Martin Siah, Singapore country executive at Bank of America (BOA).

A more benign interest rate outlook is also supporting the acquisition finance market, he added.