In the third quarter of 2025, the Italian M&A market experienced a moderate slowdown, with operators adopting a cautious approach amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and global economic complexity. Compared to the same period in the previous year, both the number and value of transactions declined slightly, reflecting a more selective approach to opportunities and an increased focus on the robustness of deals. In this context, specialized legal advisory services remain essential to ensure regulatory compliance and effectively manage the legal risks associated with transactions.
Despite a challenging environment, key sectors such as financial services, energy, and industry continue to show resilience, demonstrating that the market remains driven by consolidation dynamics and corporate growth. Private equity, in particular, continues to play a central role, pursuing carefully structured transactions to balance risk and development potential. Legal advice, especially during due diligence and contract structuring phases, proves essential in safeguarding the interests of both investors and companies involved.
Across Europe, the mergers, acquisitions, and private equity landscape is evolving within a framework of complex challenges and emerging opportunities. Investors and companies are increasingly focused on transactions that deliver lasting value, favoring sustainable and innovative business models, particularly in the technology and environmental sectors.
ESG criteria have become a crucial element in decision-making processes and deal structuring, while small and medium-sized enterprises remain a dynamic component of the market, with growing activity in restructuring and strategic repositioning. In this scenario, thorough assessment of regulatory and contractual aspects is critical to ensuring deal success and preventing potential disputes.
The main market drivers include:
The fourth quarter of 2025 is expected to remain stable across Europe, with strategically significant and high-value transactions, although volumes will likely stay below pre-pandemic levels. The market is showing gradual adaptation to new financing conditions and a convergence in valuations, contributing to a more favorable environment for new negotiations. A more sustained recovery is anticipated in 2026, particularly in the mid-market segment, where opportunities for growth and consolidation appear especially promising.
van Berings assists clients with experience and expertise throughout all phases of M&A transactions, providing tailored legal advice to protect corporate interests and facilitate successful outcomes, even in complex international contexts, while ensuring full regulatory compliance and effective management of legal risks.
Responsible supply chain management is rapidly becoming a binding regulatory obligation. A company’s supply chain significantly extends its sphere of influence beyond the boundaries of the organization itself, exposing it to external factors that may fall outside the control of internal policies.
Nowadays, companies that demonstrate integrity are better positioned to seize market opportunities, attract investment, and build lasting stakeholder trust. Corruption is now recognized as a strategic risk, with direct consequences on performance and reputation. That’s why leading organizations are moving beyond checkbox compliance, embracing transformational governance, a proactive leadership model that embeds ethical behavior across the entire ecosystem: internal teams, suppliers, partners, and clients.
van Berings con BAKEL nell’ingresso di Friulia SpA nel capitale della pmi innovativa attiva nel segmento cosmetico.
DISCLAIMER: the content of this news is for informational purposes only and neither represents, nor can be construed as a legal opinion