China's overseas M&A value hits record high  

2012年中國海外并購金額創歷史新高

普華永道30日公布的研究顯示，去年中國企業并購活動呈兩極分化：一方面，海外并購總金額錄得創記錄的652億美元，同比飆升54%；另一方面，國內外并購交易宗數卻是5年來的新低，預期今年會明顯改善。

Hong Kong (CNS) – China's total overseas acquisitions achieved a record high of US$ 65.2 billion in 2012, yet the total number of mergers and acquisitions dropped to the lowest level in the past five years, according to research released Wednesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

There were 2,953 M&A transactions in the domestic and overseas markets, a year-on-year decrease of 21 percent, the data showed. However, the value of the transactions rose as more private enterprises got involved in acquisitions on a large scale.

According to incomplete statistics, overseas M&A transactions last year by Chinese private enterprises amounted to $25.5 billion, soaring 171 percent compared to the previous year, but the number of transactions remained stable.

Unlike state-owned enterprises which focus on the energy industry, private companies are eager to take advantage of the financial difficulties in the U.S. and Europe to acquire high-quality brands and high-end technology for the Chinese market, said Ni Zhimin, who works at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The industries mainly include consumer products, financial services and entertainment, he added.

The firm predicted that Chinese M&A activity will accelerate from the second quarter of this year.