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Mergermarket reveals top M&A advisers
Mergermarket has released its M&A league tables for H1 2017, ranking law firms on both deal value and deal count.
Tom Lodewyke
The specialist M&A research firm recently released the Global and Regional M&A: H1 2017 report. The total deal value for the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan, was US$272.9 billion (approx. AU$356.5 billion), down 7 per cent compared to H1 2016.
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China, which accounted for 49.1 per cent of Asian deals, experienced a 23.8 per cent drop in overall deal value compared to H1 2016. Mergermarket attributed this to the country’s increased regulation of outbound M&A.
King & Wood Mallesons led the Asia-Pacific region* in both deal count and value, with 53 deals valued at a total of approximately US$29.4 billion (approx. AU$38.2 billion). However, this was a 74.7 per cent drop from its H1 2016 deal value of US$116.5 billion (approx. AU$151.7 billion).
Clifford Chance came in second with 28 deals at US$21.8 billion (approx. AU$28.3 billion). Fangda Partners, Allens, Simpson Thacher and Bartlett, Slaughter and May, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, AZB & Partners, Herbert Smith Freehills and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer rounded out the top 10.
In the smaller Australasian region, Allens returned to the top spot for M&A legal advisers by deal value after coming second in Q1 2017.
The firm recorded over US$20.5 billion (approx. AU$26.7 billion) in deals over the six months. King & Wood Mallesons dropped to second place in Australasia with US$15.6 billion (approx. AU$20.3 billion).
“We are pleased to have worked on a number of large and complex transactions in the first half of this year,” said Guy Alexander, head of Allens’ corporate practice.
“The deals on which we have worked are representative of the market’s strong interest in infrastructure and energy, and build on our extensive experience in these areas.
“We feel privileged that our clients entrust us with some of their most significant matters, and we pride ourselves on working with them to deliver the best possible outcomes for their businesses.”
Herbert Smith Freehills, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy, Stikeman Elliott, Gilbert + Tobin, Baker McKenzie, Ashurst and MinterEllison rounded out the top 10 for deal value.
Freshfields and Allen & Overy both made significant jumps from H1 2016, when they placed 30th and 22nd respectively.
However, it was Herbert Smith Freehills that claimed the number one spot for deal count in Australasia, recording 35 deals in six months.
King & Wood Mallesons and MinterEllison were the closest contenders, tying for second place with 26 deals each.
Gilbert + Tobin, Thomson Geer, Allens, Ashurst, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Baker Mckenzie and Norton Rose Fulbright also made the top 10.
Thomson Geer was a notable performer, up from 18th place in H1 2016.
*Correction: This article originally listed Allens as number one for deal value in the Asia-Pacific. Allens was number one in Australasia, while King & Wood Mallesons was number one in the Asia-Pacific.
