The CEE region saw a healthy level of dealmaking prior to the outbreak of coronavirus, but saw a fall in March as M&A across Europe began to slow. The region saw a clear decline by value, although fared better than other parts of Europe, while the deal count fell to its lowest point in several years.

As uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic began to hit corporates, the Nordic region fell short in attracting sizable deals in 1Q20 but instead witnessed a growing focus on start-ups and medium enterprises, a trend that is likely to continue. 

Watch Mergermarket's webinar on UK M&A and the impact of COVID-19 here. 

Global dealmaking has been brought to a standstill in the past few weeks and activity is likely to remain subdued for the coming months, according the Mergermarket's Q1 global M&A trend report. 

• Tech, healthcare, fintech M&A seen sustained into 2020
• Sponsors likely to continue take-private spree
• Cash rich private equity bides its time

Dealmakers in Switzerland remain confident of a strong deal flow sustained by high levels of dry-powder but are starting to take a more cautious approach and conduct more case-by-case assessments of economic and political risks on planned acquisitions, panellists said during the Swiss M&A and Private Equity Forum on 24th October.

Here are 5 reasons why CEE M&A has remained broadly  in line with 2018’s figures amid global concerns. 

During Mergermarket's annual Germany Forum, panellists and conference attendees were eager to discuss how the country's often feted Mittlestand could become victim to domestic under-investment and neglect.

Private equity take-privates double over 12-month period

• Valuation decrease a strong possibility
• Banking and retail particularly exposed to political risk
• Food and retail sectors to retain interesting margins

• Positive lending environment opens doors for deals
• Protectionist measures could threaten larger transactions
• IPO market upbeat after successful flurry in 1H18

The rotation in the region's debt market continues. In this market overview, Mathew Cestar, Co-Head of Global Credit Products in EMEA at Credit Suisse provided an assessment of how the European debt markets are evolving away from banks toward institutional-based relationships.

Day 1 summary from "financing day" and how innovation is shifting Germany's corporate finance landscape.