The number and value of offshore M&A deals rose in 2017, making it one of the busiest years recorded for the region, according to a report released by offshore law firm Appleby.
The latest edition of Offshore-i, an Appleby report that provides data and insight on merger and acquisition activity in the major offshore financial centres, focuses on transactions announced over the course of 2017. In addition to the rise in deal activity, it also found that 2017 was the busiest year on record for offshore IPOs.
‘In the face of the substantial geopolitical uncertainty which overshadowed 2017, the offshore region’s positive performance is all the more remarkable,’ said Cameron Adderley, partner and global head of corporate at Appleby. ‘These deals were led prominently by acquisitions, although a number of companies also chose to add additional financing firepower by issuing new stocks and bonds to eager investors.’
The report points to a number of factors that could impact M&A in the coming months, including US tax reforms and regulatory scrutiny, the Chinese government’s concern over outbound deals and the deployment of private equity, among others.
The M&A environment across jurisdictions
In total, there were 2,771 deals targeting offshore companies in 2017, representing a total value of $227bn. This marked an increase over 2016, which saw 2,735 deals recorded at a value of $219bn.
Each deal in the offshore top ten in 2017 was worth well over $2bn, with the largest offshore deal being the $6.8bn purchase of all the issued shares of Belle International, a Cayman Islands-incorporated footwear manufacturer listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Over the course of the year, the offshore region saw three megadeals – those valued at $5bn or more.
The Cayman Islands remained the busiest jurisdiction for offshore transactions in 2017, recording more than 800 deals. It was followed by Hong Kong (592), the British Virgin Islands (505) and Bermuda (402).
Offshore IPOs experience bumper year
Well over 300 IPOs were reported across the offshore region in 2017, making it by far the busiest year on record. The top sector for announced IPOs is technical and engineering consultancy, for fundraising to assist with project finance and the acquisition of additional equipment.
‘In 2016, companies delayed IPOs amid heightened volatility in the financial markets,’ Adderley said. ‘This pent-up demand was released in 2017 and IPO announcements by offshore-incorporated companies are at an all-time high.’
The offshore region also experienced a record with completed IPOs, seeing 179 companies successfully complete their listing. Hong Kong exchanges are the most popular for offshore companies, followed by US and London exchanges.
Acquiror deals involving offshore buyers continue to rise
Though the primary focus of Offshore-i is on transactions in which offshore targets are purchased by investors, the report also examines deals in which the acquiror is based offshore. Up until 2014, there was parity between the levels of activity inbound and outbound from the offshore region. Since that time, however, offshore companies on the acquiror-side have come to dominate, and the report found that figures from 2017 continue to reflect this.
The year 2017 recorded 3,313 such deals worth a cumulative $347bn. China, the US, India and the UK make up the bulk of the locations targeted but there were also many large deals conducted elsewhere, such as the $1bn institutional buy-out of Portugal’s Novo Banco by Bermuda-registered private equity firm, Lone Star.
Key findings of 2017
- The total value and volume of offshore M&A deals rose when compared to 2016. The year saw 2,771 deals worth a total of $227bn.
- The top ten deals were each worth well over $2bn, with the largest offshore deal being the $6.8bn purchase of all the issued shares of Belle International.
- The finance and insurance sector dominated the offshore landscape in terms of deal value.
- Acquisitions in the real estate sector make up the main theme of this year’s highest-value deals. Software development also continues to attract significant acquisitions, as companies compete to build market share in this rapidly evolving sector.
- Cayman remained home to the largest number of deals, followed by Hong Kong, the BVI and Bermuda.
- The offshore region saw well over 300 IPOs reported, making it by far the busiest year on record.
- Despite the new regulatory restrictions, China continued to be the prominent acquiror of offshore targets, with the UK, Taiwan and the US also
highly placed. - 128 deals targeting offshore-incorporated companies were financed via private equity and venture capital, for a total value of $40bn. After a relatively quiet 2016, this marks a considerable uptick in offshore activity.
- There were 3,313 outbound deals from the offshore region, worth a combined $347bn. The top outbound deals, the highest-value offshore-related deals over the year, show a healthy spread of sectors, including logistics, manufacturing and banking institutions.
To learn more about Appleby’s Offshore-i report, simply visit: applebyglobal.com/offshore-i/offshore-i.aspx