2007 sees record values for mergers and acquisitions

The individual transaction of most value was related to the merger of Pekao SA and part of BPH, which boosted the value of M&A's by zł.20 billion. Similar to previous years, the greatest influence on the value of mergers and acquisitions circled companies with foreign ownership, while domestic enterprises accounted for mid-size and small transactions. "Numerous Polish owners of enterprises find out that their family business is worth zł.50-200 million and they consider disposing of it," said Piotr Rudzki of PwC. The transactions did not feature the acquisition of local companies by a large international corporation, but rather aimed at merging leaders in Poland and surrounding countries to create strong regional players, such as pharmaceutical companies Polpharma and Gedeon Richter. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) M.M.