Germany sees surge in M&A activity and foreign investment

The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market is experiencing a significant resurgence, particularly in Germany. Data from LSEG indicates that foreign corporations and investors spent $107 billion on German companies during the first nine months of 2026, doubling the amount from the previous year. This foreign investment accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total $179.3 billion M&A volume involving German entities.

In addition to large-scale international acquisitions, such as Uber’s ongoing attempt to acquire Delivery Hero, the German M&A market grew by 15 percent in the first half of 2026. The number of initial public offerings (IPOs) in Germany also doubled compared to the previous year, providing much-needed exit routes for private equity firms.

As the market for company sales recovers, retail investors are gaining increased access to the private equity sector. Options for individual investors include purchasing shares in listed companies, investing in ETFs, or utilizing ELTIF offerings, some of which allow entry with as little as one euro.