Merger and acquisition activity increased significantly in Poland during the second quarter of 2010, both in terms of value and volume. The former amounted to $1.58 billion, according to data from M&A research firm Mergermarket, while the latter totaled 30 deals.

The value of Q2 M&A deals involving Polish capital rose by 7.3 percent y/y (130 percent q/q), while volume rose 25 percent y/y (20 percent q/q).

Poland's biggest deal was Japanese food conglomerate Lotte's $247 million purchase of chocolate brand Wedel from Kraft. This was the third-largest M&A deal in the region last quarter.

Mergermarket's data is based on “announced deals” valued at over $5 million, excluding lapsed and withdrawn bids.

View Polish M&A activity in the regional context and the sums don't look very large. Poland accounted for just five percent of Central and Eastern Europe's $31.8 billion in M&A activity in the second quarter. Ninety-two percent involved Russian capital.

In turn, Central and Eastern Europe accounted for just five percent of global M&A deals (by value and volume) in the first half of the year. Yet, as Mergermarket notes in its research, “[This is] the highest share of total deal value on Mergermarket record and the greatest proportion of half-year deal numbers since 2006.”

The upward trend was particularly visible in the second quarter, when CEE M&A deals rose by value in Q2 while activity in other geographical regions slowed.

One aspect of the M&A market not trending upward is outbound Polish activity – no major deals have been signed so far this year. And the value of outbound mergers and acquisitions in 2009 amounted to $726 million, the lowest figure since 2005.