Malta’s M&A market: The reality beyond public deals

This is the first part of a five-part series exploring the various facets of Malta’s evolving M&A landscape.

Malta’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market has been quietly gaining momentum, reflecting a maturing business environment that is navigating both local challenges and global dynamics. While only 15 publicly announced M&A deals were recorded in Malta in 2024, this number barely scratches the surface of actual activity.

“Private deals likely account for a significant portion of the market,” notes Thomas Cremona, Founder of advisory firm idisav, underscoring the discreet yet robust nature of Malta’s M&A landscape, where confidentiality often plays a pivotal role given the island’s small size and tight-knit business community.

Several sectors have emerged as hotspots for deal-making. Consolidation within the food and grocery retail industries continues apace, driven by the need to streamline operations and achieve economies of scale. In parallel, mergers in the professional services and pharmacy sectors are reshaping competitive landscapes, and the online gaming industry – a cornerstone of Malta’s economy – is seeing strategic acquisitions as companies vie to bolster market positions and diversify offerings in response to global regulatory pressures.

Beyond these trends, a growing number of Maltese family businesses (which make up a significant component of the economy and are often nearing generational transitions) are also influencing M&A dynamics. Many turn to M&A as a succession planning tool, to manage smooth generational handovers, secure legacies, or exit the market altogether.

This forms part of a feature first published on Malta CEOs 2025, the sister print brand to MaltaCEOs.mt, both owned by Content House.