Portugal

Mergers and acquisitions in southern Europe mobilise 37% more capital in the first half

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 22/10/2026, 10:26:24 UTC.

Briefings

Southern European M&A activity surged 37% to €147.7 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by international investors and megadeals. While Portugal's market declined 27% to €800 million, the broader region saw 126 high-value deals identified by Mergermarket, with Italy and Spain leading. Key transactions included Sabseg's €600 million investment in Miura Partners and Cedar Capital Partners' €140 million acquisition of Caesar Park. Analysts note underlying opportunities exist despite lower visibility in smaller deals.

Key points

• Southern European M&A activity surged 37% to €147.7 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by international investors and megadeals.
• Italy and Spain led the region with 237 and 177 high-value deals respectively, while Portugal's market declined 27% to €800 million.

Context

This analysis comes from Forvis Mazars, an international audit firm, highlighting the contrast between Southern Europe's strong capital mobilization and Portugal's weaker performance. The data reflects a period where international investors drove activity in the region, with specific deals like Sabseg's investment in Miura Partners and Cedar Capital Partners' acquisition of Caesar Park being prominent.

Limitations

Data covers only the first half of 2026, with Portugal's market showing a decline compared to the same period last year. The analysis relies on Mergermarket data which only includes deals over €5 million, potentially missing smaller opportunities. Forecasts for the second half are not confirmed, and the specific reasons for Portugal's decline are not fully explained.

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