Brussels-based holding company Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL) is acquiring a majority stake in Dutch traffic management specialist BUKO Group for 500 million euros.

Global aluminum packaging leader Ball Corporation has taken over the former Benepack plant in Genk and is immediately seeking more than 40 new employees, with further hiring planned throughout the year.

Flemish accounting and advisory group SBB has taken a significant strategic step forward by acquiring KDCA, a respected firm based in Heist-op-den-Berg.

Accuramed, a distributor of medical technology in the Benelux, today announced the acquisition of BeMedico, based in Herzele.

Derotex, the market leader in recycled natural fibers, has welcomed Down2Earth Capital III (D2E) as a strategic partner to fuel its next phase of expansion.

Dokapi has announced the acquisition of PeppolEDGE, a Walloon specialist in secure on-premise data exchange and Peppol connectivity for compliant electronic invoicing.

Dumarey Group, a family-owned leader in propulsion systems for vehicles and industrial applications, has announced plans to acquire AUMOVIO’s manufacturing site in Mechelen, Belgium.

This is your playbook for turning family values into global growth. Whether you’re a family business owner, investor, or M&A advisor, the insights in this whitepaper will help you avoid costly mistakes in international expansion, leverage ‘patient capital’ as a competitive edge, and build governance and financing strategies that align with long-term vision.

Research suggests that overconfident CEOs are as much as 65 percent more likely to make an acquisition than their more grounded peers.

Global biopharmaceutical leader UCB announced today a definitive agreement to acquire Neurona Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company specializing in regenerative cell therapies for epilepsy and nervous system disorders.

Belron, the British parent company of Carglass and the world’s largest vehicle glass repair and replacement group, is preparing for a blockbuster initial public offering (IPO) in Amsterdam.

Keylane, a European powerhouse in software solutions for insurers and pension funds, has announced its acquisition of Vereycken & Vereycken, Belgium’s leading provider of life insurance and pension software.

MAIT Group, a leading pan-European technology partner for industrial digitalization, has announced its acquisition of 4ITEGO Group, a prominent provider of engineering software solutions for the manufacturing industry.

Alistar, a leading European technology partner specializing in business applications, data, AI, and ICT, has announced a dual strategic expansion to strengthen its market position.

Altix, the Dutch private equity platform democratizing access to private equity investments, has closed its third portfolio fund, Alt.3, raising 140 million euros from over 450 investors far exceeding its 100 million euros target.

Four & Five Law is pleased to announce the appointment of Nils Vermeulen as Managing Associate, effective immediately.

What does the strategic blueprint behind one of Europe’s most active software investors look like? How are they structured? And what returns does that generate? At the latest M&A Summit, Jorn De Ruiter, Partner & Head of IR at Main Capital Partners, was keen to answer those questions.

Intertoys, the Dutch toy retail chain and part of the Belgian Dreamland group, has announced the acquisition of a 75 percent majority stake in Wings Holding, the parent company of the well-known Dutch online toy shop Lobbes.nl.

While public markets reach new highs, private equity continues to face an unprecedented four-year slump in fundraising, deal activity, and exits. Yet according to Nils Rode, Chief Investment Officer at Schroders Capital, this prolonged downturn may not be all bad news.

Eduviva Group, Europe’s leading provider of creative and educational products, has announced its agreement to acquire Baert, a prominent Belgian supplier of educational materials and furniture.

3ES has strengthened its regional footprint in West Flanders through the acquisition of Kortrijk-based 3D measurement firm NX2.

Global PE deal activity remains robust, with a volume slightly below that of 2025.

Cadran and Yuccaa join Rsult Group and accelerate the group’s growth strategy with strong financial and strategic support from Smile Sail.

Go Vocal, the Brussels-based leader in digital democracy solutions, has acquired French pioneer Open Source Politics (OSP), consolidating its position as Europe’s foremost provider of civic engagement infrastructure.

Belgian industrial hygiene and cleaning solutions specialist Christeyns has accelerated its international growth strategy with two new acquisitions in Europe and Africa.

Qover, Europe’s leading embedded insurance orchestration platform, marks its 10th anniversary with a 12 million dollars growth capital injection from CIBC Innovation Banking, pushing its total funding past 100 million dollars.

Altenova – a portfolio company of Sofindev – has taken a significant step in its growth strategy by acquiring A+ Beveiliging, a Dutch specialist in fire detection, intrusion security, and surveillance systems.

The next League Tables publication is just around the corner. Submit your deals by April 3, 2026, to ensure inclusion.

Datashift, a fast-growing data and AI consultancy from Mechelen, has acquired a strategic stake in Data Trust Associates, an Antwerp-based compliance and data management firm.

Gimv has successfully closed a new 400 million euros revolving credit facility, replacing its existing 210 million euros undrawn bank credit lines.

Global chemical distributor Manuchar has agreed to acquire CJP Chemicals, a prominent South African chemical distributor, in a move set to bolster its presence in the region and expand its global distribution network.

Antwerp-founded and London-based Hummingbird Ventures is set to deploy 800 million dollars in new funds, doubling down on its signature strategy of investing in unconventional, ‘misfit’ entrepreneurs.

A small economy that ranks ninth in European deal volume may be the clearest window yet into where the continent's transport sector is heading — and why the window for strategic positioning is narrowing.

Belgian diversified investment company WorxInvest reported a net result of 825 million euros million for 2025, fueled by a record 322.8 million euros in new investments and a one-time 189.5 million euros boost from the successful launch of HR Pay Solutions.

PIA Group makes strategic German debut with LADM acquisition, targeting 1,000 employees by 2027.

Vectis Private Equity is pleased to announce the appointment of Sébastien Rulmont as Investment Manager.

Belgian ice cream manufacturer Jacques IJs has acquired B’Nice, a production partner with which it has collaborated for over a decade.

The acquisition builds on GOVI’s expertise in specialty chemicals, positioning it to capitalize on rising demand for high-performance protective and industrial gloves worldwide.

Belgian engineering and consulting network Studibo has acquired Solvexis, a Scandinavian specialist in safety and prevention for industrial facilities.

In a labor market plagued by 163,000 unfilled blue-collar vacancies across Europe, Belgian startup Ringtime has raised 1.8 million euros to transform how recruiters connect with candidates.

The Philippson family, co-founders of Bank Degroof, has become the majority shareholder of the renowned Belgian bakery chain Les Tartes de Françoise.

Trixxo Jobs NV and A.M. Group NV have agreed to end their partnership, less than two years after Trixxo acquired the Belgian recruitment group in late 2024.

Jurimesh, the Ghent-based tech company for legal due diligence, announced today that Maurits Arnauw has joined the company as Head of M&A and Legal Innovation.

According to Tony Yoseloff, head of the credit hedge fund Davidson Kempner, Wall Street is severely underestimating the challenges facing the private equity (PE) industry. This is not a future concern but an existing issue, reports The Financial Times.

Register a company in 48 hours, operate across all member states.

The world of mergers and acquisitions is entering a new era. Despite geopolitical tensions and ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, M&A activity is showing clear signs of recovery. But how are the world’s leading dealmakers navigating this volatility? And what strategies and mindsets are required to succeed in this evolving environment?

German Investor Orlando Capital has been given permission to further shape the strategic direction of the retail formulas.

TINC delivered outstanding financial results for the year ending December 31, 2025, marking a significant step in its growth strategy.

Puratos and Dawn Foods announced today a definitive agreement for Puratos to acquire Dawn Foods, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

European private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is exploring the acquisition of a stake in Belgian state-owned bank Belfius, ahead of a possible initial public offering (IPO), according to two sources familiar with the matter. Reuters reports this.

The League Tables – based on data by Dealmakerdata.be – show which firms and dealmakers really matter. The biggest deals, the most deals, the most active firms and dealmakers: everything is included.

The acquisition marks a strategic expansion for Barco, positioning the company as a fully integrated provider of audiovisual solutions.

The Dutch VDL Groep has acquired Limoco, a Belgian family-owned company specializing in turnkey industrial ventilation and extraction systems.

Belgium’s entrepreneurial boom continued unabated in 2025, with 132,199 new businesses registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO) – the highest figure in a decade.

Private equity activity in the European defense sector is structurally higher than in the past decade.

Walloon chemical group Silox has acquired select assets related to sodium hydrosulfite production from German chemical giant BASF.

Compagnie du Bois Sauvage has finalized the acquisition of the remaining 34 percent stake in renowned chocolatier Jeff de Bruges, securing 100 percent ownership of the brand.

steute Technologies, a global leader in medical and industrial switching solutions backed by U.S.-European investor Battery Ventures, has acquired Oldelft Ultrasound, a Dutch pioneer in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probes.

TMC, the Eindhoven-based technology consultancy, has acquired WEB, a fellow Eindhoven engineering and consultancy specialist.

PK Consumer Health, a joint venture between Yvan Vindevogel’s Damier Group and U.S. private equity firm Avista Healthcare Partners, has acquired Healthaid Ltd (UK) and Healthaid USA, marking a strategic expansion into the vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMS) market.

Aedifica has successfully acquired 79.57 percent of Cofinimmo’s shares during the initial acceptance period of its exchange offer, a major step toward creating a leading European healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT).

The partnership underscores ConXioN’s commitment to measurable tech value, from standardized service models for SMEs to tailored solutions for larger organizations.

All Seas Capital, a pan-European private capital fund from London, has invested in Sereni, a leading funeral services platform across Belgium, Germany, and Poland.

Sweco, Europe's largest architectural and engineering consultancy, has integrated the Belgian operations of CONIX RDBM Architects into its architecture division, effective immediately under the legal entity Sweco Architects.

team.blue, a leading European AI-powered digital enabler for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and agencies, announced the acquisition of Saleskit today.

Vertical Compute has secured a total of 57 million euros in seed funding to tackle AI’s memory bottleneck, a critical challenge as global demand for high-density memory outpaces supply. "It’s like replacing a single-story home with a skyscraper.”

Sofindev has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Elindus and its sister company Smart at Energy, marking a strategic move to fuel the group’s expansion in the Belgian B2B energy market.

What’s Cooking families launch 148 euros-per-share bid to take the company private after turbulent years.

iDocta, a leader in print and document solutions, has acquired Michiels (a Canon partner) and Picard (a Kyocera specialist), merging three of Belgium’s strongest print providers into one.

Two of Belgium’s leading IT service providers, Dynamate and VanRoey, have announced their intent to merge, forming a 140 million euros revenue unified managed IT group under the Dynamate brand.

Smile Sail, the tech fund led by serial entrepreneur Urbain Vandeurzen, has acquired a majority stake in Twikey, a Ghent-based payment orchestration scaleup.

Nova Reperta, a Brussels- and Amsterdam-based management consulting firm, has secured Tilleghem as a new strategic investor, replacing previous backer Ardian (2021–2026).

Belgian coffee group House of Coffee is accelerating its international expansion with the acquisition of Dutch peer Café Salento and a strategic partnership with private equity fund Down2Earth Capital III (D2E).

Big Pony Ventures (BPV) has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Collect Online, a move aimed at accelerating the company’s technological and geographic expansion.

In a move to strengthen the sustainable e-commerce sector, Dutch zero-waste online supermarket Pieter Pot has announced a merger with Belgian counterpart Andy.

SD Worx, Europe’s leading HR and payroll solutions provider, has acquired Paie & RH Solutions, a fast-growing French payroll outsourcing specialist and early adopter of Yeap, France’s most advanced cloud-native payroll technology.

Software and AI investor Smile Sail has acquired a majority stake in RegLab, a leading Dutch provider of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance software for law firms and investment funds.

In the European SME market, access to capital and buyers is not the main constraint. Increasingly, the differentiator is readiness.

Gimv, the Belgian investment company, has announced robust results for its shortened financial year 2025, achieving a record investment level of 466 million euros and expanding its total portfolio to over 2.1 billion euros – a 31 percent increase in just nine months.

The Argos Index® fell to 8.3x EBITDA in Q4 2025, its lowest level since 2014, as European and Belgium’s mid-market M&A landscape faced persistent downward pressure on valuations.

Belgian digital transformation specialist dear digital has announced the acquisition of Rezolv, a Hasselt-based Odoo partner.

Belgian publisher Lannoo, based in Tielt, has acquired Ludion, a renowned art publisher from Nazareth-De Pinte.

Minitab, LLC, a global leader in data analytics and process improvement, has acquired Effex, a cutting-edge design of experiments (DOE) and optimization platform and spin-off from KU Leuven.

The Luxembourg company CLdN has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Samskip’s quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight operations between continental Europe and the UK & Ireland.

Getax Logistics, headquartered in Tessenderlo-Ham, Limburg, has finalized the acquisition of Dutch counterpart QBC The Netherlands, based in Maastricht.

US private equity firm Ampersand Capital Partners has acquired Purna Pharmaceuticals, a Belgian contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in liquid and semi-solid drug formulations.

Polpo, the smart platform for political and policy monitoring in the Netherlands and Belgium, proudly announces that as of 12 February it has welcomed a new investor. CNBB acquires a small majority stake in Polpo, whereby the current investors transfer their shares. The remaining shares will stay in the hands of the existing shareholders: Caspar Pille, Johan van Zaanen, Desmin Dekker and Hans van Krevel.

Positive financial conditions within the sector are revitalizing deal activity.

Vic Swerts, founder and owner of global sealants giant Soudal, has acquired a majority stake in Iris Industry Solutions, a specialist in industrial coatings.

Backed by 30 Dutch and Belgian families and an institutional investor

HERAN Partners has secured 90 million euros at the closing of its second healthtech investment vehicle, HERAN HealthTech Fund II, with plans to expand the fund to between 110 million euros and 120 million euros.

Vectis Private Equity has announced the first closing of its fifth investment fund, Vectis 5, securing 85 million euros in fresh capital to support the growth of promising Belgian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

International food retailer Ahold Delhaize closed 2025 with resilient earnings and a strengthened balance sheet, while stepping up its M&A activity to support long-term omnichannel expansion.

Salary growth for professionals in the European private capital market remains subdued.

Belgian hygienic interiors specialist PolySto Group has acquired German FRP panel manufacturer Hydewa, marking another step in the group’s buy-and-build strategy following the investment by Sofindev in 2025. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Smile Sail has acquired a majority stake in Rsult Group, an award-winning Oracle NetSuite partner, in a move aimed at accelerating the technology company’s growth across the EMEA region.

Belgian investment holding Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL) has signed definitive agreements to acquire a 45 percent co-controlling stake in Rayner, a leading manufacturer of intraocular lenses and other ophthalmic products.

East Flanders entrepreneur Dominique Desrumaux has completed his second acquisition in the motorhome sector with the purchase of Urbano Motorhomes, a well-known company based in Ostend.

Argos, an independent European private equity group with offices across France, Italy, the Benelux and DACH regions, has promoted Arne Louwagie to Senior Director within its Benelux investment team.

AKD has strengthened its Brussels tax practice with the appointment of Elien Van Malder as partner, alongside tax adviser Adrien D'Heure.