Sorainen took part in a major project studying the market and contractual terms of Belarusian M&A transactions – the Belarus M&A Deal Point Study. The Study was jointly organized by 10 leading Belarusian law firms based on information about 59 M&A deals over the last 3 years. The Study utilizes experience from similar projects in other jurisdictions, as well as the results of the previous study conducted in 2010.

In the course of the current Study, the participants gathered and analyzed information about the most significant business acquisition deals in Belarus closed between January 2016 and December 2018. To be included in the scope of the Study, a transaction must have had a value exceeding the equivalent of EUR 500,000 as of the closing date ‒ the date of transfer of control over the acquired business. In regard to each of the transactions the participants provided answers to 84 questions covering various legal and organizational aspects involved in the deal. Detailed analyses of the information collected combined experience of implementing the largest M&A projects in the country with determining the most widespread practices in applying various legal instruments, including international ones, when preparing acquisition agreements. The data obtained may also serve as a basis for analyzing trends in the Belarusian M&A market.

Comments Maksim Salahub, advocate, partner with Sorainen: “The results of the Study demonstrated the evolution of the M&A sphere in Belarus. The last three years have revealed new trends: acquisition of local start-ups by global players in the IT sector, increasing interest from investors in projects in the China-Belarus “Great Stone” Park, and broader application of generally accepted international legal instruments. We observe the professional growth of deal participants and the convergence of transaction processes to international standards. It is also a pleasure to note the increased role and activity of private business and lack of significant one-time projects among the transactions analyzed – such as the sale of Beltransgaz OJSC or the privatization of major state-owned banks. We hope that the experience accumulated by the business community will contribute to the development of business in any economic environment”.

Results of analyses are available in the Study report.

Sorainen thanks all the law firms that participated in the Study.