The number of merger and acquisition deals, concluded in Southeastern Europe including Bulgaria, has increased significantly compared to the levels for the previous year.

In Bulgaria the increase reached 250 per cent, a research of PricewaterhouseCoopers shows.

The total value of deals concluded in 2005 exceeds $ 91 billion, Dnevnik newspaper reported. This sum is 75 per cent higher compared to the figures for 2004. Average value of deals, concluded in the 10 countries analysed in the report, totals $71 million.

Most mergers occurred between companies from the same country. A leader in this area is the Russian market. Most foreign deals occurred in Romania and Slovakia. Bulgaria and Romania experienced the highest growth rate. There, the number of deals is three to four times higher compared to the one for the previous year.

The research analyses business activity in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

2005 is seen as the year of mega-deals, since 15 per cent of all mergers exceed $100 million.

The production sector remains most attractive for investors. Financial deals follow, together with energy and food sector mergers and acquisitions.