Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Investments, Latvia, Markets and Companies

In the first half of 2014, there were 82 publicly-announced merger and acquisition deals in the Baltic countries, whereas in the entire 2013, there were 85 such deals.

The acquisition of the Lithuanian insurance company Lietuvos Draudimas by its Polish rival Poweszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen (PZU) was the largest acquisition/merger deal in the first half of 2014 – EUR 180 million. PZU also acquired Latvia's Balta during the same period.

39% of merger and acquisition deals in the Baltics the first six months this year were registered in Lithuania, and 26% in Latvia. In Latvia, the said acquisition of Balta by PZU was the largest deal, worth EUR 48 million.

One of the most anticipated developments in the region is the German energy company E.ON Ruhrgas International GmbH decision to exit the Baltic countries. This also means that the German company will sell its 47.2% stake in Latvijas Gaze.

The Prudentia M&A Folio study is a quarterly review of the Baltic market of acquisitions and mergers that analyzes the general trends for the region and offers the opinions of Prudentia experts.