This article was originally published in the Star Business News. Read the full version here.
MALAYSIA has become an attractive destination for private equity investments with a sizeable population of 27 million and a robust international business community, said RSM International in its first global business forecast report on mid-sized enterprises.
The report indicated that much of the country’s private equity capital comes from Singapore.
But a growing amount of financing originates from Europe and the United States, including mega funds like Kohlberg Kravis Roberts whose portfolios included Western multinationals with subsidiary operations in Malaysia, RSM said in the report.
RSM is a global member organisation of independent accounting and consulting firms.
It published its inaugural RSM Global Business Forecast: Middle Enterprises in the World Economy report at the end of last year to address the challenges and opportunities facing mid-sized companies in the age of globalisation.
Girish Ramachandran, executive director of RSM’s consulting division in Malaysia, RSM Strategic Business Advisors Sdn Bhd, said the company planned to launch the report in Malaysia in the middle of this month.
He said the survey was conducted between June and December last year across the five regions, namely the Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America, Europe and North America.
It was compiled by the RSM economic adviser David Bartlett.
The report was based on a detailed survey by 130 professionals who are from partner firms in the RSM International network and whose knowledge and experience produced a wealth of insights into how middle enterprises are responding to global business shifts.
In Malaysia, the survey was conducted and reported by RSM’s audit practice in Malaysia, RSM Robert Teo, Kuan and Co.
“There were about 50 to 60 countries involved in the Global Business Forecast survey, and it is the first time RSM is publishing such a report on mid-sized companies.
“The report has been developed as a tool for clients to help them address potential areas of concern to their business and maximise current opportunities available to mid-sized enterprises globally,” Girish told StarBiz.
