Here's a stat for you. According to Mergermarket, Asia's M&A activity reached a record level in 2014 -- 3,250 deals worth nearly $600 billion (€508.8 billion), some 43.4 percent higher than in 2013.
By the way -- that figure excludes Japan.
"Particularly over the past few years, the story was Asian conglomerates were targets, but now they are acquirers," Mergermarket Asia-Pacific editor Mai Mizuta told the South China Morning Post, pointing to Thai Union's acquisition of Bumble Bee.
That deal -- let's call it the biggest deal of the year -- was largely expected given the synergy between the two groups, but the second-biggest deal, Mitsubishi's acquisition of Cermaq, couldn't have been more of a surprise to the industry.
