Czech M&A market grows 35% as foreign investors return

The Czech mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market saw a 35% year-on-year increase in the first half of the year, reaching 96 transactions. This growth was primarily driven by a significant rise in mid-sized deals, which now account for approximately 40% of the market, up from just 7% in the previous year.

According to an analysis by the advisory firm RSM, this resurgence is fueled by the return of foreign investors. Rather than acquiring individual companies, these investors are increasingly consolidating regional entities across Central Europe, often combining firms from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia.

Monika Marečková, a managing partner at RSM, noted that the second quarter brought a qualitative shift, marking the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine that foreign investors have returned to mid-sized transactions in the region. While Poland remains a primary driver of investment in Central Europe, the Czech market is beginning to benefit from these regional investment waves.