Mergers and acquisitions activity in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland increased by 53% in the first half of 2000 compared to the same period last year, according to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Poland led the way with a 151% increase in M&A activity. The total number of transactions in the region was 447 for the first six months of 2000, compared to 293 in the first half of 1999. Of the 447 deals, 201 were in Poland, 132 in Hungary and the remainder in the Czech Republic, the analysis by PwC's Central European corporate finance group.