The role of financial services in Malta’s M&A activity

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

Global economic conditions are shaping Malta’s M&A landscape in profound ways. The ripple effects of rising interest rates, high inflation and geopolitical tensions have made deal-making more complex, tempering some of the frenetic global activity of recent years.

“Malta has inevitably felt the effects of these global trends,” notes David Pace, Partner at KPMG in Malta, adding that the local market has faced subdued activity in line with broader international patterns. However, he remains optimistic about its trajectory, particularly in financial services.

“It is possible that this year will continue in line with last year’s trend, particularly with financial services regaining prominence in deal-making activities,” David explains.

Recent months have seen credible momentum, spurred by private equity funds and international players strategically deploying capital.

“Managing the expectations of buyers and sellers is a challenge throughout the deal-making process,” he continues. “Keeping parties updated is vital, as fatigue can set in and key stakeholders can get nervous. Open communication, adopting a proper process, ensuring one’s house is in order (be it buyer or seller), and readiness to see a deal through are key.”

As Malta’s M&A market matures, financial services are set to play an increasingly prominent role, helping businesses align financial and strategic goals more effectively.

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