U.S. and Asian companies seeking acquisitions in Europe mayaccelerate dealmaking next year after a slowdown in the secondhalf, beckoned by a slumping euro and share prices depressed by thesovereign debt crisis.

Led by Johnson & Johnson's $21.3 billion bid forSwitzerland's Synthes Inc., announced takeovers in Europe byoverseas companies rose by about 58 percent to $252 billion thisyear, data compiled by Bloomberg show. While acquisitions havedeclined since July, companies including General Electric Co.,China's HNA Group Co., and Japan's Fast Retailing Co. have signaledan appetite for further takeovers in the region.

“There are well-positioned acquirers globally looking forbargains,” even if economic pressure has slowed recent Europeandealmaking, said Gregg Lemkau, head of mergers and acquisitions forEurope, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific at Goldman SachsGroup Inc. “One of the drivers in Europe has been historically lowvaluations and a relatively soft currency.”