The partners of the Corporate and M&A department at Van Olmen & Wynant, Luc Wynant and Koen Hoornaert, have authored the Belgian chapter of GLI - Mergers & Acquisitions 2024. This publication from Global Legal Insights is an annual practical guide that covers regulatory markets, significant transactions, industry sectors, developments, and the outlook for the year ahead in 20 jurisdictions.
Mergers and acquisitions in Belgium are governed by a wide range of European, national, and regional legislation, including company, securities, and contract law. The Belgian Code of Companies and Associations includes the basic principles on the transferability of shares and various procedures for corporate restructurings across different types of companies in Belgium.
From a Belgian perspective, the 2023 M&A market saw a decline in deal activity compared to previous years, primarily due to challenging economic conditions and geopolitical uncertainties. There was a notable decrease in technology sector deals, influenced by market uncertainty and challenging financing conditions. Despite this, the market showed resilience, particularly in the mid-market segment. However, the outlook for 2024 appears more positive, with an expected increase in deal activity, especially in larger transactions exceeding EUR 50 million.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have become increasingly important in various phases of the deal process. In 2023, 84% of financial investors included ESG in their investment policies, using it as both a risk assessment tool and a driver for value creation. The integration of ESG factors is predicted to gain momentum in 2024.
Data analytics continues to transform the M&A landscape, offering deep insights and actionable intelligence throughout the M&A process. Effective use of data analytics in M&A requires access to large volumes of reliable data, a challenge that remains critical.
Download or consult (online) our contribution to GLI – Mergers & Acquisitions 2024 for free (see links below).