China's outbound M&A hit record high at $111.9b in 2015

[Photo/IC]

China's outbound M&A volume increased for the sixth consecutive year to a record high of $111.9 billion in 2015, breaching the $100 billion mark for the first time ever, says a recent report from Dealogic, an international information provider on investment deals.

Europe was the top targeted region for Chinese acquisitions and accounted for almost one third of total outbound M&A, with $31.3 billion via 136 deals in 2015, the highest volume and activity level on record.

China National Chemical Corp's $9.0 billion acquisition of Pirelli & C SpA, completed in October 2015, is the largest China outbound M&A deal in 2015 and the third largest Chinese bid for a European target on record.

Technology was the top targeted sector for China outbound M&A, with a record high of $18.8 billion in 2015, up 87 percent from 2014 ($10.1 billion).

Baidu Inc, Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings, China's Internet trio collectively known as BAT, together have snatched up assets worth $34.9billion via 96 M&A deals in 2015, both at home and abroad.

US-listed Chinese companies have announced $33.5billion worth of private deals in 2015, more than all previous years on record combined.