The Future of Dealmaking: APAC M&A Dealmaking Trends

For dealmakers across the Asia Pacific region, 2025 brings a mix of opportunities and challenges. Factors like evolving private equity (PE) strategies and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption are pushing firms to rethink their approaches. As dealmakers face ongoing geopolitical tensions and regulatory challenges, what is the 2025 dealmaking outlook?

These topics were front and center during SS&C Intralinks’ “Future of Dealmaking” webinar, where a panel of senior Asia Pacific dealmakers shared insights on the trends, strategies and opportunities shaping M&A, IPOs and financing this year.

Moderated by Misha Mulligan, director, SS&C Intralinks Japan, the panelists included:

• Tim Miles, Founder & Principal, Miles Advisory
• Yeung Tsai, Managing Director, Citi
• Akshay Pradeep, Executive Director & Solution Partner, Standard Chartered Bank

Here are three key takeaways from the session.

1. Private equity is making a comeback in APAC

PE firms across APAC are preparing for a more active year as pressure increases to return capital to LPs after two years of sluggish activity. The panelists highlighted that creative exit strategies and shifting market dynamics are driving renewed momentum in the PE space.

Tim Miles summarized this shift, saying, "

Here’s how PE firms are approaching the year ahead:

• India is leading the way, with USD 20 billion in IPOs in 2024, making it the second largest IPO market globally.
• Greater China sponsors are shifting strategies, focusing on pan-Asia funds and looking to Southeast Asia for exits.
• Secondary transactions and continuation funds are becoming popular tools for unlocking liquidity.

2. Geopolitical tensions will continue

Recent political shifts in the U.S. have intensified trade tensions with China. The panel discussed how these changes, coupled with tightening regulations, are increasing deal complexity and extending timelines.

Young Tsai highlighted the evolving challenges: “What I suspect will happen is that countries will identify sensitive sectors. There will be more scrutiny on deals happening in those sectors.”

Some additional developments include:

• Tariffs and onshoring trends are prompting companies to reevaluate supply chains and shift operations closer to home.
• Regulatory hurdles are growing, with Australia’s ACCC expected to review up to 80 percent of M&A transactions and Singapore tightening rules in sensitive sectors.

3. AI is changing how deals are done

AI is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s now an essential technology for those who want to stay competitive. The panel emphasized how AI is now embedded in multiple stages of the M&A process, helping dealmakers move faster, reduce risks and focus on high-value strategic tasks.

Young Tsai noted the significance of this shift by stating: “Generative AI is starting to play a role in the diligence process, helping dealmakers find transactions, draft agreements and assist in negotiations. That’s one trend that will pick up."

AI is accelerating the deal process in multiple ways:

• AI-powered due diligence speeds up document review and helps teams reveal risks faster.
• Virtual data rooms (VDRs) now use AI to allow users to query documents directly, cutting down time spent on otherwise repetitive manual tasks.
• Negotiations and deal structuring benefit from generative AI, which assists in drafting contracts and managing complex deal terms.

Get the full picture

As APAC dealmakers face shifting dynamics and new challenges, staying informed is key to identifying the right opportunities and rising above the competition. Watch the complete webinar to gain more insight into the trends, strategies and opportunities shaping M&A, IPOs and financing across the region this year.