Mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies rose to their second highest volume on record in the first nine months of this year, data from Thompson Reuters shows.

M&A activity by Chinese companies reached US$136.3 billion in value in the first three quarters of 2011. The volume was the second highest level on record, second only to the US$150.44 billion in deals achieved in the first nine months of 2008.

Chinese firms closed a record high of 2,844 deals in the first three quarters of this year.

Inbound M&A activity rose to US$72.97 billion, accounting for 53.5 percent of the total volume. Outbound M&A deals accounted for 23.5 percent, while acquisitions by foreign firms represented 21.7 percent.

The number of M&A deals made by foreign firms rose 49 percent to 575 by Sept. 19, involving US$29.52 billion in volume, another record high.

Related

• China defends regulation on reviewing foreign M&As
• Rock band R.E.M. announces break-up
• China to review foreign M&A of domestic firms
• China's outbound M&As hit record levels

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)