April 25, 2024

• 

[THE INVESTOR] The country’s M&A market has shrunk to a decade-low, data showed on Dec. 30.

According to Bloomberg data, the value of M&A deals carried out this year stands at 38.4 trillion won (US$31.91 billion), falling under the 40 trillion won mark for the first time since 2006. The figure excludes Samsung Electronics' US$8 billion acquisition of Harman International in September.

In comparison, the figure for last year stands at 144.1 trillion won, a record for the country’s M&A market.

The slowdown in M&A deals this year is thought to have been influenced by criminal investigations on Lotte Group, and the presidential scandal that has rocked the the corporate community.

Foreign entities’ acquisition of South Korean firms also plunged this year, dropping from 23.86 trillion won last year to 5.13 trillion won.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)