Monday, August 27, 2007

M&A overdrive hits speed-breaker from headlines to boardrooms

Mergers and acquisitions seem to be the flavour of the season in India this year with reports of more than two potential deals hitting headlines every day, but over 80 per cent of these do not actually fructify.

According to a study by international M&A deals tracking firm 'mergermarket', India has emerged as Asia-Pacific's second-biggest target after China in terms of official or unofficial intentions expressed for takeover deals from across the world this year.

However, the conversion rate - measuring the proportion of news headlines actually converting into deal announcements - is the second-lowest for the country in the region. India was the target for as many as 561 potential merger and acquisition deals in the first seven months of 2007, trailing China with 824 potential deals. This translates into a daily average of about four deals in China and 2.6 deals targeting India during the 212 days between January and July this year. However, the study says the number of final deals was just 95 for Indian companies (one deal in more than two days), giving a conversion rate of just 17 per cent - the second-lowest in Asia-Pacific after 15 per cent for Taiwan.

Mergermarket said India has emerged as a key region for actual and potential M&A activities, but issues like restrictive FDI policies were hindering the momentum. "Restriction on foreign direct investment and limited capital account convertibility are limiting deal flow. Important sectors such as banking and retailing remain off-limits to foreign acquirers," it said.

(Source: Economic Times)

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