Last year saw an unprecedented number (56) of M&A transactions in Central & Eastern Europe valued over $100 million, totalling $27.8 billion. Out of these "mega" deals, 27 occurred in Russia and represented almost 40% of total estimated transactions in the region.
Based on the review of publicly disclosed private-sector transactions, PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates the value of M&A transactions in the CEE region to be $50 billion, 31% higher than in 2003. In the nine countries that formed part of the research the total number of transactions was 1,219 or 4% more than in the previous year.
Margaret Dezse, Central & Eastern European Corporate Finance Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers, says: "Deals with values above USD 100 million contributed to a further growth in the nine countries surveyed in 2004, including several deals over $1 billion."
Foreign investors were particularly active during 2004, originating 477 transactions in the region which accounted for 39% of all deals. This reflects a 30% growth compared to 2003. The weakness of the dollar did not deter US investors from investment activity, with 52 transactions during 2004, which is comparable to 48 deals in 2003.