The might of the Chinese buyer has become a recurring talking point in global dealmaking circles.
Sell-side advisers in the US and Europe point to interest from well-funded Chinese bidders when trying to liven up an auction. Competitors disparage Chinese companies’ sophistication and their ability to execute a deal while secretly fretting about what valuation they might put on the table. And regulators, particularly in the US, wrestle with how they should treat Chinese acquirers should the long-predicted flurry of global deals come to pass.
The position of China as an economic power is well established. But its presence as a force in global dealmaking is just becoming clear.