Rajah & Tann Singapore has contributed to the Singapore chapter of Corporate M&A 2025 Global Practice Guide published by Chambers and Partners.
The resurgence in mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) activity in 2024 did not take place as many had hoped. While there was a slight uptick in overall deal value on a global scale and within the Asia-Pacific region, Southeast Asia saw a 15-year low in M&A activity in 2024. Singapore similarly faced challenges in 2024, reflecting broader regional and global trends. While commentators were predicting a rebound in the M&A market for 2025, the global uncertainty and instability surrounding global trade policies will now have a profound impact on global M&A activity, making it difficult to forecast future M&A activity. Authored by M&A Partners Sandy Foo (Head, Corporate & Transactional Group), Tracy Ang (Deputy Head, Corporate & Transactional Group; Head, Mergers & Acquisitions), Terence Quek (Deputy Head, Mergers & Acquisitions), Favian Tan, Loh Chun Kiat and Goh Jun Yi, the Trends and Developments portion of the Chapter provides an overview of the notable trends and legal developments in Singapore M&A landscape in the past year, as well as what to expect in the year ahead. The chapter discusses the following key trends:
- uncertainty in M&A activity;
- heightened healthcare M&A;
- continued delisting momentum;
- slow start for De-SPACs (the use of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) for listing); and
- shareholder activism.
The chapter also covers significant legal developments in the M&A space. These include increased regulatory oversight over M&A, and the continued development of legislation around artificial intelligence (AI), which is set to have a significant impact on M&A activity in the region.
The full Singapore Trends and Developments chapter can be accessed here (please select the Trends and Developments tab).
Find out more about our Mergers & Acquisitions Practice here.
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