As Mainland China managed to achieve a V-shape recovery in the economy post Covid-19, the burst in M&A activities since the second half of last year helped record a 52.6% full year increase compared to 2019. Deal-making in Mainland China in 2020 alone, mounted 56.5% year-on-year to USD 463.9bn, while Hong Kong M&A activity increased by 0.7% year-on-year to USD 22bn over the same period.

Beijing’s “dual circulation” strategy, designed to spur Mainland China’s domestic demand and facilitate foreign investment and boost exports simultaneously, is considered as a strong driver that beefing up domestic consolidation. Inbound deals across the mainland have rebounded by 112.3% last year. However, cross-border deal activities, though revived to some extent, are still facing challenges from prolonged lockdowns in a few deal destinations abroad. On the other hand, outbound activities saw another steep fall in 2020 by 48.6%.

Difficulties to conduct M&A transactions, especially physical management meetings and on-site due diligence, remain to be the biggest obstacles that dragged down the cross-border deal momentum.

Agenda

10:45 Time to Login to the Virtual Briefing

11:00 Live Virtual Briefing starts

We take stock of M&A activity in Hong Kong and Mainland China and consider, outlook for the rest of the year including:

• Overview of Q1 2021 M&A activity and insights
• Which sectors and sub-sectors will present most opportunities as the global vaccination campaign brings hope?
• Any regulatory/policy changes for dealmakers to leverage in 2021?
• How are M&A transactions being conducted where travel bans might not be lifted in near future?

11:50 Live Q&A

12:00 Closing remarks

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