Stancescu, Riff: Deal activity to remain below the frantic pre-crisis pace for another 30 years

'Our forecasts for the local M&A market suggest a decline in deal number average to below €5 million over the next 2-3 years', said Marius Stancescu , chairman of Riff Holding International.

He added that one year and a half, or two years from now, after the local M&A market will have emerged from this crisis, the deal activity will start to pick up.'I expect the deal size to fall below 2009 levels. And this is a good thing, because companies with revenues below €1 million will be on the sell side, which wouldn't see before the onset of the financial crisis', Stancescu pointed out.

The local M&A market rose 75% in the first quarter this year, from the same period of 2009, to €178 million, according to a Capital Partners study.25 deals were announced in the first quarter, 79% more than 14 a year earlier.