伟凯律师事务所于近日发布的一份亚太地区Q1并购报告指出，第一季度科技板块表现强劲，中国企业参与的交易也是亚太并购增长的关键驱动力。
报告指出，第一季度亚太共发生164宗交易，价值高达373亿美元，其中有48宗针对中国企业，总价值高达178亿美元。
在瞩目板块方面，首先是针对在线人力资源门户网站的投资，方源资本和春华资本收购在线招聘平台智联招聘76.5%的股份，价值高达13亿美元，“突显了后疫情时代网络就业平台的前景”。
其次是电子商务，尤其是日用杂货板块的持续增长，例如印度塔塔集团以13亿美元，从PE公司Abraj Group和阿里巴巴手中收购印度Supermarket Grocery Supplies 64.3%的股份。
该领域另一宗大型交易是有赞41亿美元的私有化。有赞为京东、淘宝等在线零售巨头提供支付服务，并帮助中小企业实现微信销售。根据eMarketer的数据，预计在2021年，中国所有零售额的50%以上将首次通过电子商务的方式实现。
另一个热门板块则是软件，第一季度交易总额为83亿美元，大型交易包括字节跳动通过收购沐瞳科技实现电子游戏领域布局，以及帮助传统银行将网络覆盖至农村地区的服务平台JHD Technologies通过SPAC在美上市。
展望未来，报告指出，在例如中国、新加坡这样疫情受到控制的亚太国家，人们的购物、娱乐、工作和学习方式已然被科技重塑，这一板块的交易也将继续下去。
您可点击此处查看完整报告。
New report shows China leading Asia’s Q1 M&A deal
A Q1 Asia M&A report recently published by White & Case shows that the technology sector delivered a strong performance and dealmaking involving firms based in China was a key driver of the growth.
The report records 164 transactions in the first quarter valued at $37.3 billion, including 48 ones targeted at Chinese companies with a total value of $17.8 billion.
Online HR portal is one worth noticing sector. The largest deal saw Chinese PE firms FountainVest Partners and Primavera Capital acquire a 76.5% stake in online recruitment platform Zhaopin, “highlighting the promise seen in online employment platforms in the post-pandemic era.”
Ecommerce, especially the grocery segment, remains to be another hot sector. Tata’s acquisition of a 64.3% stake in India’s Supermarket Grocery Supplies from PE firm Abraaj Group and Alibaba, exemplifies this trend.
Another large deal was the $4.1 billion privatization of China Youzan, which provides payment services for both online retail giants, including JD.com and Taobao, as well as for SMEs to sell on WeChat.
According to eMarketer, for the first time, more than 50% of all retail sales in China are expected to be through eCommerce in 2021.
Software deals were also popular during the first three months, with a total deal value of $8.3 billion. Large deals included ByteDance’s acquisition of Moonton to expand into the video game sector, as well as JHD Technologies’, a services platform that helps established banks extend their network into rural areas, listing through SPAC in the U.S.
Looking into the future, the report points out that in places like China and Singapore where the pandemic is very much under control, the way people shop, entertain themselves, work and learn has changed and “technology is at the heart of making these long-term behavioral changes possible”, which means dealmaking in the sector is set to continue.
Click here to see the full report.
To contact the editorial team, please email ALBEditor@thomsonreuters.com.
