Most deals were sealed towards the end of the year, with 10-15 transactions being finalized in November-December.
The largest transaction recorded during this period, which is also a top-three transaction for 2012, is the takeover by Auchan of 20 Real stores in a deal estimated by ZF at over EUR200 million. The deal was a regional one, with French group Auchan paying EUR1.1 billion for Real stores in Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Russia, previously owned by Germany’s Metro. The deal creates a new giant in Romanian retail.
After retail, energy equipment was the sector that saw the second-largest transaction during this period. Founders of Cluj-based EnergoBit, a EUR160 million business with 900 employees, sold the majority stake to Polish private equity firm Innova Capital. Another stake was bought by the EBRD. ZF put this deal at EUR65 million.
The end of the year was a breath of fresh air for the mergers and acquisitions market after a weak start of the year.
(English version by Danbiela Stoican)
Largest transactions sealed in 2012
|
Seller |
Buyer |
Target |
Industry |
|
CVC investment fund |
Molson Coors Brewing |
StarBev (which in Romania owns brewer Bergenbier) |
food industry |
|
Eight Turkish investors, stock exchange investors |
Ameropa Holding |
96.5% in Azomures |
fertilizers |
|
Metro Group |
Auchan |
20 Real stores |
retail |
|
ModaTim (Ovidiu Sandor) |
NEPI |
City Business Center |
real estate |
|
Stefan Gadola, Peter Pal and Ioan Socea |
Innova Capital, EBRD |
Majority stake in EnergoBit (only Innova Capital) |
energy |