LONDON - Almost one in five European companies is likely to make a major acquisition next year, a survey showed, adding weight to claims that European mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are set to rebound from their 2009 trough.

But highlighting the continuing obstacles to dealmaking, the survey by UBS and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found executives were wary of taking on new debt and many thought there was a dearth of good targets at reasonable prices.

Compared to last year's survey, conducted at the height of the financial crisis, respondents were also less convinced that transformational M&A would reshape their industries.

CEO confidence is improving and signals the return of more normal M&A market conditions; balance sheet and other 'crisis'-related drivers are less of an issue than last year, the UBS team wrote in a note dated December 15.

The poll of 166 companies found 19 percent were likely, very likely, or definitely going to buy another company that had at least 500 million euros ($728 million) in annual sales next year.

Strategic reasons such as expanding product ranges, or accessing new locations and new customers, were most frequently cited.

However, only 20 percent expected a transformational deal in their sector, down from 43 percent last year.

The poll also illustrated a mismatch between buyers' and sellers' price expectations, with about 40 percent of respondents saying there was a lack of attractive targets and a similar proportion citing high valuations as a hurdle to deals.

And just 9 percent planned to take on new debt or loans to finance deals, while 42 percent said deals would be financed by existing cash reserves.

UBS forecasts a 15 to 20 percent increase in M&A next year. Its top picks as potential acquisition targets next year are Aegis (AEGS.L), Basilea (BSLN.S), C&C (GCC.I), Croda (CRDA.L), Kloeckner (KCOGn.DE), Meggitt (MGGT.L), Peugeot (PEUP.PA), Sonaecom (SNC.LS) and Temenos (TEMN.S).

(Editing by Sharon Lindores)

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