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A sense of optimism continues to surround European and CEE M&A despite geopolitical headwinds, according to the sixth edition of the European M&A Outlook, published by CMS in association with Mergermarket.

The report canvassed the opinions of 230 Europe-based executives, from corporates and private equity firms, assessing deal-making sentiment for the European M&A market in the year ahead.

M&A value in 2018 increased 16 percent year-on-year, reaching a total value of EUR 509bn during H1, and the outlook remains bright. Over 70 percent of respondents expect to engage with M&A over the coming year and 22 percent of respondents expect deal-making to significantly increase over the next 12 months.

This optimism is underpinned by a strong interest from overseas buyers, with 92 percent of respondents expecting an increase in the number of inbound European transactions.

Stefan Brunnschweiler, Head of the Corporate/M&A Group at CMS, said, “This increasing interest from overseas dealmakers in European firms is taking place against a backdrop of a burgeoning trade war between the US and China, with the upcoming US mid-terms and possible shifts in US policy creating uncertainty as well. As tensions intensify and with European growth remaining solid, the region is presenting itself as a safe haven.”

In the CEE region a degree of political uncertainty has not disrupted steady growth. “The M&A business thrives on change, Poland’s reclassification from emerging market to developed market is a recent example, and in the CEE region the value of M&A activity in the first half of this year has increased by an impressive 56% compared to 2017,” says Helen Rodwell, Managing Partner, CMS Prague & Head of CEE Corporate practice group. “One sector that has received a high level of interest is pharma, medical and biotech. In fact, one of the top European deals so far this year was Advent International’s EUR 1.9bn deal to buy Zentiva, a pharma company based in the Czech Republic. Despite political challenges from ongoing trade wars and of course Brexit, we expect market conditions in CEE to remain friendly for M&A.”

In general, political instability within Europe remains a challenge for dealmakers, with respondents citing this as their paramount concern when pursuing M&A. “Despite the optimism surrounding European deal-making, Europe remains an uncertain political climate,” says Virginia Garcia Martinez, Transactions Editor, EMEA at Mergermarket. “This may act as a deterrent to M&A transactions targeting countries such as the UK and instead prompt dealmakers to seek more stable ground within the continent”.

Key findings from the report include:

  • 22 percent of respondents are expecting dealmaking to increase significantly over the next 12 months, up from just 7 percent last year.
  • Companies are increasingly using dealmaking to shape and optimise their business, with 72 percent of those within this report expecting to engage with M&A in some way in the coming year, whether through acquisitions, divestments or both.
  • Financing conditions appear positive, with 47 percent expecting conditions to improve over the next 12 months. Financing methods have diversified since the crisis years, with more companies turning to cash reserves, refinancings and bank lending as sources of capital.
  • Politics in Europe is the biggest obstacle to M&A activity in the region, followed by possible shifts in US policy.

Methodology

In the second quarter of 2018, Mergermarket surveyed senior executives from 170 corporates and 60 PE firms based in Europe about their expectations for the European M&A market in the year ahead. All respondents have been involved in an M&A transaction over the past two years and all responses are anonymous and results are presented in aggregate.

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Contact:

Erik Werkman, Head of BD, Prague and Bratislava

+420 296 798 701

erik.werkman(a)cms-cmno.com

 

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 1,05bn in 2016.

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

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