Singapore's deal pipeline poised to soar in 2014

Amidst Fed tapering woes.

Independent valuation and advisory consulting firm, American Appraisal, released the key findings of its annual “Transaction Trail 2013” report.

The report takes an in-depth look at transaction and capital markets activities, including mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), private equity (“PE”), venture capital (“VC”) and initial public offerings (“IPOs”), in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia over the course of 2013.

In 2013, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (the “region”) recorded a total deal activity valued at US$59.4 billion spread across 670 deals. Globally, about 10,400 deals valued at over US$1.4 trillion were registered for the first three quarters of 2013.

Singapore recorded 365 deals (M&A, PE/VC and IPOs) worth US$34.0 billion for the year compared to 338 deals valued at US$28.0 billion for 2012. On M&A alone, Singapore registered a total deal volume of 286 deals valued at US$28.1 billion in 2013.

Cross-border deals accounted for US$24.5 billion spread across 204 deals, with inbound deals contributing to 61% of the total cross-border deal volume in 2013.

Domestic deals amounted to 82 deals valued at US$3.69 billion.

The Singapore IPO markets have been fairly active in 2013 with a higher number of listings and value of deals, compared to the previous year. The Singapore Exchange recorded 24 listings valued at US$5.18 billion, the largest of which was the US$1.99 billion listing of Mapletree Greater China Commercial Trust.

Looking ahead, Singapore IPO activity looks set to further increase with the new regulations to allow Indian unlisted companies to list overseas.

There were six Reverse Take-Over Offers (“RTOs”) that were announced in 2013 on the Singapore Exchange, though none of them have been completed yet. There have been a few RTOs announced in previous years, which remain pending as well.

“Crystal-gazing into 2014, with the robust economic indicators and fundamentals in the region, we expect to see a sustained or even higher level of M&A, investment and listing activities next year,” said Ms Srividya Gopalakrishnan, Managing Director, American Appraisal Singapore. “The deal value in the pipeIine, based on current open offers made, is close to US$3.0 billion and a significant part of this could materialise in the first quarter of 2014,” she added.