Stepanovski, Papkul and partners Attorneys at Law took part in a major market research project in the sphere of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions – “Exploring key terms of M&A transactions in Belarus”. The research was conducted through joint efforts of 10 leading Belarusian law companies and aggregated together information about 59 M&A transactions over the past 3 years. In this research were combined the best practices of similar projects in other jurisdictions and the results of the previous 2010 survey.
During the Study, participants collected and analysed information on major business acquisition transactions in Belarus consummated from January 2016 to December 2018. The Study examined only transactions worth over 500,000 euros as of the date of takeover. In case of each transaction, participants gave their answers to 84 questions about various legal and managerial aspects. A detailed analysis of the collected information allowed participants to unite the best practices of Belarusian M&A projects and distinguish the prevailing practices of using various legal mechanisms including international ones. This information may also be used as a base for analysing the existing M&A market trends in Belarus.
“Among the 15 sectors covered in the study, where M & A activity was noted, the bulk of the deals were in IT and food industry, construction and real estate, energy and trade. Private business became the main participant and driver of M & A.
As the three-year history has shown, the number of transactions didn’t change significantly from year to year. There is a noticeable tradition to start the activity, when one owner replaces another from the relevant industry, and the transactions are concluded through negotiations between them.
Auctions and tenders remain an unpopular tool, but many transaction conditions are much closer to international practice. And this trend of rapprochement with international practice will continue with the further development of private business.”
Valery Papakul, Partner, Attorney at Law
Results of the research are available in the report.
Stepanovski, Papkul and partners Attorneys at Law thank all the law firms that participated in the Study.
