This year, against a challenging backdrop – economic headwinds, repercussions of the war in Ukraine, seller/buyer valuation gaps and a difficult financing environment – deal makers are remarkably bullish. 73% of deal makers expect the level of European M&A activity to increase over the next 12 months, compared to just 53% last year. Almost all respondents (88%) are currently considering M&A.

What’s more interesting CEE region is perceived as exceptionally attractive for investors from the leisure sector and financial markets. Leisure deal makers consider CEE to be the region that will see the greatest deal growth in the next 12 months, cited by 37% of respondents in the sector. Nearly half (47%) of Financial Services dealmakers cite CEE as the region expected to see the greatest deal growth in the next 12 months, more than any other sector.