Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Australia hit a record high in 2010 passing the US$100 billion mark, industry research has found.
Figures from independent M&A service, mergermarket's 2010 year-end round-up for Australia found it was involved in 379 deals valued at US$104.1 billion, an increase of 182.3 per cent.
The research also found Australia was the most active M&A market in the Asia Pacific, outside of Japan, accounting for 22.8 per cent of the region's total M&A transaction value.
"Ongoing demand for Australian resources continues to drive M&A activity in the resources space and the related infrastructure sectors, a trend expected to continue well into 2011," mergermarket said.
The total value of announced M&A transactions in Australia surpassed US$100 billion for the first time in 10 years, the company said.
"The proposed merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange will likely impact the economics of public listings and that of mergers among listed companies," mergermarkets said.
The research also found private equity interest in Australian companies across sectors such as financial services and health care is expected to continue this year.
In the past 12 months, UBS Investment Bank (UBS) and Macquarie topped a list of top M&A involvement, with UBS advising on US$45.8 billion worth of deal and Macquarie advising on 31 transactions.
