Deal-making activity in Asia-Pacific speeds ahead of US and Europe

The race is far from over, but the Asia-Pacific has come out of the blocks much faster than the US and Europe in deal-making activity in 2025.

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The volume of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the Asia-Pacific is up 19 per cent from the first quarter in 2024, helped by pending blockbusters such as the sale of CK Hutchison Holdings' ports and 7-Eleven operator Seven & i Holdings.

That growth rate outshines the US' 13 per cent and leaves Europe firmly in the shade, with volumes sliding 14 per cent there, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

"Companies and financial sponsors across Asia are more actively pursuing M&A than we've seen in the past three years," said Mr Raghav Maliah, global vice-chairman of investment banking at Goldman Sachs Group.

The heftier size of deals is an encouraging sign for the rest of the year, Mr Maliah said, adding that corporate governance reforms in countries such as Japan and South Korea are also helping to lift positivity in the region.

Goldman, the only investment bank working on Hutchison's ports sale, tops the global league table for deals advisory in 2025.