CEE/SEE sees M&A jump, highest ever PE investment value: HVCA 19th Annual Conference in Budapest
Michael Ignatieff, President and Rector of CEU, delivers keynote address
June 01, 2017 – The Hungarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (HVCA)‘s 19th annual conference on Private Equity, Venture Capital and Corporate Finance in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was held today in Budapest. Michael Ignatieff, President and Rector of Central European University (CEU), was its keynote speaker. The HVCA’s annual conference on private equity, venture capital and corporate finance in CEE/SEE brings together the key decision-makers, investors, advisors, and regulators in this major investment discipline - this year addressing wider themes such as the transformation of the European financial system, and Brexit, and the role of women in the PE and financial sector, as well as core industry issues such as the transformation of private equity.
„This is one of the great student destinations in Europe, and it has enormous unexplored potential. This country has a heck of a lot to be deeply proud of,” said Mr. Ignatieff at the Conference. „This economy is growing at 3-4% at the moment. The smartest thing it can do is invest massively in education.”
According to the EY M&A Barometer, total estimated M&A deal value in CEE/SEE for 2016 was €42.6 billion (US$47.7 billion), an increase of 10.7% on the previous year. And the year finished with a huge deal: Japanese brewer Asahi’s €7.3 billion acquisition of the CEE assets of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Private equity investment in the region, meanwhile, reached its highest value ever, according to Mergermarket, with 103 deals worth a combined value of €11.3 billion.
„The CEE/SEE region is still offering better growth prospects than the rest of Europe, and PE investors have rewarded it with record deal value,” said Levente Zsembery, HVCA Chairman and CEO of X-Ventures. „Hungary has contributed both advisory support and assets for some of the most important regional deals.”
„Our latest M&A Barometer results show not only a strong M&A year in 2016 for the region as a whole, but also Hungary as a particularly attractive target for financial investors, with 32% of all deals going to financial investors, a figure rivaled only by Slovakia,” observed Margaret Dezse, Leading Partner, Transaction Advisory Service at EY.
„Private equity and venture capital played an important role in CEE’s transition to a market economy, by improving corporate governance and efficiency, rebranding products, and so on,” said Anikó Kircsi, Head of Corporate, M&A and Private Equity, CMS. „2016 was a record year. It seems to be a consensus among experts that this trend will continue in 2017. There is still high growth potential to be leveraged in CEE.”
“The CEE/SEE region has shown that it can deliver the right mix of major, strategically important deals on a global scale, as well as a strong flow of mid-cap deals.” added Hugh Owen, Partner at Allen & Overy, another main sponsor and supporter of the Conference. „With VC and PE activity and business innovation in CEE/SEE continuing to grow, and with increased inbound investment interest in the region from all over the globe, prospects look excellent for sustained dealmaking into 2017”
About the Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HVCA)
The Hungarian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HVCA) represents the interests of the private equity and venture capital industry in Hungary by supporting its members and promoting adherence to the highest possible professional and ethical standards. The HVCA was established in 1991. Currently, the HVCA is known as one of the most dynamic and active professional organisations in the CEE region. The HVCA represents virtually every major player of the private equity and venture capital industry in Hungary and is dedicated to promoting the private equity and venture capital industry for the benefit of funds, entrepreneurs, private equity professionals and the economy as a whole.