Findings from the CMS Emerging Europe M&A 2021 report, published today in cooperation with EMIS, show that 2021 was a year of rebound and recovery for deal-makers in emerging Europe.
Not only did the region recover from its dip in 2020, with 2021 transaction levels rising to 2,015 deals (up 18.2 per cent), but emerging Europe saw overall deal value reach its highest level since 2013 – increasing to EUR94.27 billion (up 55.1 per cent).
Private equity is now firmly embedded in the dealmaking culture of emerging Europe. Building on 2020’s buoyant numbers, private equity activity rose further with deal numbers at an all-time high (399) and values up 18 per cent (EUR 23.75 billion).
IPOs also enjoyed a bumper year as the number of listings surged to 116 (up from 26) and values jumped to EUR13.47 billion (up from EUR4.79 billion). These figures reflect the success of regional stock exchanges, such as Warsaw, Bucharest and Istanbul, in attracting new listings, while those in London, Amsterdam and New York continued to appeal to companies seeking international investors.
