Emerging Europe deal value reached EUR 80.5bn in 2018 fuelled by string of “megadeals”, according to CMS/EMIS report

06/ 02/ 2019

Deal value across emerging Europe grew 12.5% in 2018 Telecoms & IT sector claimed four of the region’s ten largest deals and topped deal table by value Real Estate was region’s most active sector (432 deals), up 10.8% from 2017 Private equity flourished in 2018 with total number of deals rising by 15%. Sector claimed five deals at or above EUR 1bn Russia enjoyed largest number of deals (605), followed by Poland (323) and Turkey (193) Albania achieved the highest year-to-year growth, up 1054.5% on deal value and 300% on deal volume, followed by Serbia up 737% on deal value and 40% on deal volume The latest CMS Emerging Europe M&A report, published in cooperation with EMIS, shows that the UK was the largest foreign investor in emerging Europe by value (EUR 9.77bn), and the USA by volume (89 deals), in 2018. M&A deals in Ukraine This marks a shift from 2017, when China dominated the table by value, owing in large part to the $9bn CEFC China Energy-Rosneft deal. Without the presence of this Chinese megadeal, China slipped down the table to fifth place by foreign investors in 2018. Overall, cross-border deals were up 20.1% by value to EUR 53.4bn while domestic deals remained stable at EUR 27.1bn. Helen Rodwell, Partner in the CEE Corporate Practice, CMS, comments: “M&A activity has been surprisingly buoyant. Markets have reached a size and level of sophistication that makes them more aligned to western European expectations and standards and that is reflected in interest from international investors including private equity funds and corporates.” Another solid year for emerging Europe Strong economic growth across emerging Europe combined with a stable international economy for most of the year created a conducive environment for deal making in 2018. While overall deal numbers were slightly lower than 2017 (down 0.9%), a handful of megadeals such as Vodafone’s EUR 6.07bn purchase of Liberty Global’s CEE operations, pushed values to EUR 80.5bn, the second highest level in the past five years. Radivoje Petrikić, Partner, CEE Corporate Practice, CMS: “There is a lot of potential for growth and development in the Balkans which is why it is attracting interest from international investors. The challenge for them is the availability of the right targets.” As the largest economy, Russia enjoyed the biggest number of deals (605), but that was 10% down on the previous year and the lowest since this report was first published in 2012, reflecting sluggish growth, estimated at 1.7% by the IMF. Stefan Stoyanov, Global Head of M&A Database, EMIS: “Once the uncertainty around Brexit is resolved, there could be some uptick in M&A as investment plans put on hold are likely to resume. Free capital at PE and pension funds will not sit idle for long and although the general feeling is that the region might be turning a bit more volatile than before, the challenges will surely also create opportunities for those quick to adapt and with deep pockets.” Sectors Growing demand for mobile communications, broadband and cable, combined with a wave of consolidation across Europe, saw the telecoms and IT sector catapult to the top of the table by deal valuation at EUR 18.18bn. The most active sector was once again real estate and construction, which saw the number of deals rise by 10.8%. The private equity sector base in emerging Europe has continued to grow as international firms take an increasing interest. This was reflected in a year of intense activity in 2018 as the number of deals rose by 15% to 305, close to the all-time high reached in 2015. Outlook for 2019 One of the questions in 2019, given some of the uncertainty around global trade and growth, is whether current levels of activity can be sustained. The report found growth rates in many countries in CEE left Western Europe, USA and Japan lagging behind, and provided a backdrop that has given companies and investors’ confidence to look at opportunities in emerging Europe. Perhaps the biggest threat to continued growth and the healthy M&A market in emerging Europe is what happens outside its borders. Provided the global economy remains on track, emerging Europe’s strong growth, expanding domestic markets and evolving legal and professional services ecosystems should provide investors with the confidence that they can do business in the region and maintain momentum in M&A activity. -END- About the report The “Emerging Europe M&A Report 2018” shows trends in 15 emerging CEE/SEE countries based on EMIS M&A data for 2012-2018, combined with commentary, insights and forecasts for 2019 provided by CMS. The full report can be viewed here: https://cms.law/en/CZE/Publication/Emerging-Europe-M-A-Report-2018-19 For more information and/or interviews, please contact: Contact: Darina Gordienko CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang E: [email protected] / +38044 3913377 Notes to editors: About CMS Founded in 1999, CMS is a full-service top 10 international law firm, based on the number of lawyers (Am Law 2016 Global 100). With more than 70 offices in over 40 countries across the world and employing more than 4,500 lawyers, CMS has longstanding expertise both in advising in its local jurisdictions and across borders. From major multinationals and mid-caps to enterprising start-ups, CMS provides the technical rigour, strategic excellence and long-term partnership to keep each client ahead whatever its chosen markets. Revenues totalled EUR 1,3bn in 2017. CMS provides a wide range of expertise across 19 expert practice and sector areas, including Corporate/M&A, Energy, Funds, Lifesciences, TMC, Tax, Banking and Finance, Commercial, Competition & EU, Dispute Resolution, Employment & Pensions, Intellectual Property and Real Estate & Construction. For more information, please visit cms.law

Deal value across emerging Europe grew 12.5% in 2018
Telecoms & IT sector claimed four of the region’s ten largest deals and topped deal table by value
Real Estate was region’s most active sector (432 deals), up 10.8% from 2017
Private equity flourished in 2018 with total number of deals rising by 15%. Sector claimed five deals at or above EUR 1bn
Russia enjoyed largest number of deals (605), followed by Poland (323) and Turkey (193)
Albania achieved the highest year-to-year growth, up 1054.5% on deal value and 300% on deal volume, followed by Serbia up 737% on deal value and 40% on deal volume

The latest CMS Emerging Europe M&A report, published in cooperation with EMIS, shows that the UK was the largest foreign investor in emerging Europe by value (EUR 9.77bn), and the USA by volume (89 deals), in 2018.

M&A deals in Ukraine

This marks a shift from 2017, when China dominated the table by value, owing in large part to the $9bn CEFC China Energy-Rosneft deal. Without the presence of this Chinese megadeal, China slipped down the table to fifth place by foreign investors in 2018. Overall, cross-border deals were up 20.1% by value to EUR 53.4bn while domestic deals remained stable at EUR 27.1bn.

Helen Rodwell, Partner in the CEE Corporate Practice, CMS, comments: “M&A activity has been surprisingly buoyant. Markets have reached a size and level of sophistication that makes them more aligned to western European expectations and standards and that is reflected in interest from international investors including private equity funds and corporates.”

Another solid year for emerging Europe

Strong economic growth across emerging Europe combined with a stable international economy for most of the year created a conducive environment for deal making in 2018. While overall deal numbers were slightly lower than 2017 (down 0.9%), a handful of megadeals such as Vodafone’s EUR 6.07bn purchase of Liberty Global’s CEE operations, pushed values to EUR 80.5bn, the second highest level in the past five years.

Radivoje Petrikić, Partner, CEE Corporate Practice, CMS: “There is a lot of potential for growth and development in the Balkans which is why it is attracting interest from international investors. The challenge for them is the availability of the right targets.”

As the largest economy, Russia enjoyed the biggest number of deals (605), but that was 10% down on the previous year and the lowest since this report was first published in 2012, reflecting sluggish growth, estimated at 1.7% by the IMF.

Stefan Stoyanov, Global Head of M&A Database, EMIS: “Once the uncertainty around Brexit is resolved, there could be some uptick in M&A as investment plans put on hold are likely to resume. Free capital at PE and pension funds will not sit idle for long and although the general feeling is that the region might be turning a bit more volatile than before, the challenges will surely also create opportunities for those quick to adapt and with deep pockets.”

Sectors

Growing demand for mobile communications, broadband and cable, combined with a wave of consolidation across Europe, saw the telecoms and IT sector catapult to the top of the table by deal valuation at EUR 18.18bn. The most active sector was once again real estate and construction, which saw the number of deals rise by 10.8%. The private equity sector base in emerging Europe has continued to grow as international firms take an increasing interest. This was reflected in a year of intense activity in 2018 as the number of deals rose by 15% to 305, close to the all-time high reached in 2015.

Outlook for 2019

One of the questions in 2019, given some of the uncertainty around global trade and growth, is whether current levels of activity can be sustained. The report found growth rates in many countries in CEE left Western Europe, USA and Japan lagging behind, and provided a backdrop that has given companies and investors’ confidence to look at opportunities in emerging Europe.

Perhaps the biggest threat to continued growth and the healthy M&A market in emerging Europe is what happens outside its borders. Provided the global economy remains on track, emerging Europe’s strong growth, expanding domestic markets and evolving legal and professional services ecosystems should provide investors with the confidence that they can do business in the region and maintain momentum in M&A activity.

-END-

About the report

The “Emerging Europe M&A Report 2018” shows trends in 15 emerging CEE/SEE countries based on EMIS M&A data for 2012-2018, combined with commentary, insights and forecasts for 2019 provided by CMS.

The full report can be viewed here: https://cms.law/en/CZE/Publication/Emerging-Europe-M-A-Report-2018-19

For more information and/or interviews, please contact:

Contact:

Darina Gordienko

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang

E: [email protected] / +38044 3913377

Notes to editors:

About CMS

Founded in 1999, CMS is a full-service top 10 international law firm, based on the number of lawyers (Am Law 2016 Global 100). With more than 70 offices in over 40 countries across the world and employing more than 4,500 lawyers, CMS has longstanding expertise both in advising in its local jurisdictions and across borders. From major multinationals and mid-caps to enterprising start-ups, CMS provides the technical rigour, strategic excellence and long-term partnership to keep each client ahead whatever its chosen markets. Revenues totalled EUR 1,3bn in 2017.

CMS provides a wide range of expertise across 19 expert practice and sector areas, including Corporate/M&A, Energy, Funds, Lifesciences, TMC, Tax, Banking and Finance, Commercial, Competition & EU, Dispute Resolution, Employment & Pensions, Intellectual Property and Real Estate & Construction.

For more information, please visit cms.law