A-Pac sees most billion-dollar deals

The Asia Pacific region attracted as many as $89-billion dollar deals --- highest total on record -- worth over $292 billion so far this year, says a report.

"Asia Pacific deals over $1 billion reached $292.1 billion via 89 deals in 2009, up 44 per cent on 2008, making it the highest total on record," global deal tracking firm Dealogic said.

Asia Pacific attracted nearly one-fifth of the entire pie of 'billion-dollar' deals across the world, so far this year, Dealogic said.

"Asia Pacific targeted deals accounted for almost 20 per cent of global deals over $1 billion, up 9 percentage points on last year."

Inbound cross-regional deals, however, accounted for just 12 per cent of total Asia Pacific volume, down 4 percentage points compared to that in 2008, the report added. Within the Asia Pacific region, Australia was the most targeted nation as it attracted $128.2 billion through billion-dollar deals announced during the year.

The $58-billion merger of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto iron ore assets, was the major reason that propelled the Australia targeted deal volume to more than $128 billion, Dealogic said.

India was one of the top 10 nations in terms of billion-dollar transactions, as it attracted billion dollar deals amounting to over $7.4 billion.

Other than Australia and India, the top 10 targeted nations in terms of billion-dollar deals include Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Of the top 10 nations, five witnessed a decline in deal volume on a year-on-year basis and four saw an increase despite recessionary fears, the report said.

Goldman Sachs was the top adviser on Asia Pacific targeted deals over $1 billion, as it advised on 18 transactions worth $111.5 billion.

The other top M&A advisers include Morgan Stanley and Macquarie. "Morgan Stanley was the second with $93.6 billion through 19 deals, and Macquarie was in the third place with $83.7 billion by way of 7 deals," Dealogic added.