Telecom M&A activity increases across Central and East Europe

June 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Telecom related merger and acquisition activity is increasing significantly across Central and Eastern Europe, according to specialist global news provider TMT Finance, and a number of deals are expected to change the sector over the next 12 months.

Regional telecom and media leaders, private equity investors, investment bankers and advisers meet to assess the key strategic and investment opportunities at the TMT Finance & Investment CEE 2014 Conference in Warsaw on September 30 (www.tmtfinance.com/cee ).

“M&A activity in the telecoms is especially buoyant in the CEE region, with over five billion euros of deals completed over the past year and several more in the pipeline” said Dominic Lowndes, Managing Director of TMT Finance. “We are currently tracking Government-led telecom privatisations in Slovenia, Serbia and Slovakia; regional private equity leader Mid-Europa selling telecom assets in Latvia, Hungary and Lithuania and a rise in mobile and cable TV consolidation discussions in key markets across the region.”

“Strong buy side interest is coming from the major regional telecom operators including Deutsche Telekom, Telenor, Telekom Austria, MTS and Alfa Group of Russia, as well as a number of private equity investors,” said Lowndes. “In-market consolidation of the fragmented pay TV, cable and broadband markets across the CEE region and increasing appetite for new technology, and broadband related offerings is also driving deals.”

Regional leaders from Liberty Global, Telekom Austria, VimpelCom, Russian Towers and Digital Realty are among the first round of industry speakers announced for the TMT Finance & Investment CEE 2014 Conference, which has been expanded to cover new areas and will feature over 60 speakers.  Finance and advisory speakers announced include Bank Pekao, Barclays Capital, Clifford Chance, CMS, Credit Agricole, Dentons, EBRD, EMSA Capital, ING Bank, Linklaters, Raiffeisen, Rothschild and Standard & Poor's.

TMT Finance reports completed deals in the telecom space in the CEE region in 2014 include Telefonica’s sale of O2 Czech Republic to regional investor PPF for E2.4bn; KKR’s acquisition of regional broadband business SBB Telemach for over E1bn; and Alinda’s investment into TV and radio broadcast business Emitel, estimated value at E600-700m and the largest ever incoming Polish private equity transaction.

TMT Finance provides exclusive news and regional events for senior executives in the telecom, media, and technology sector globally. Find out more at www.tmtfinance.com

TMT Finance & Investment CEE 2014 takes place at the Westin Hotel, Warsaw on September 30. Register to attend at www.tmfinance.com/cee