Borealis Leads M&A Surge with $30.85 Billion Acquisition

Deal News | Jul 08, 2025 | Zawya

Borealis Leads M&A Surge with $30.85 Billion Acquisition

In the first half of 2025, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) saw a staggering 149% increase in M&A activity, reaching $115.5 billion. This growth marked the highest first-half total since 1980. The region's deal count rose by 16%, driven by investor confidence despite global uncertainties such as the Trump tariffs. Notably, Borealis AG's acquisition of Borouge PLC for $30.85 billion exemplified the market's scale. The UAE led national targets, while the materials sector, particularly the ADNOC-OMV merger, dominated by value. Additionally, outbound M&A reached a record $64.5 billion. Rothschild topped the league tables as the leading financial advisor with $76.1 billion in deals, underscoring a vibrant M&A landscape supported by strategic diversification and regulatory reforms.

Sectors

  • Financial Services
  • Materials
  • Energy

Geography

  • Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – The primary focus region for the M&A activity and strategic diversification initiatives.
  • United Arab Emirates – The top target country for M&A deals within the MENA region.
  • Saudi Arabia – Second largest market after UAE, notable for significant M&A activities.

Industry

  • Financial Services – Involves advising on mergers and acquisitions, as seen with Rothschild's leading advisory role.
  • Materials – Dominated MENA-targeted M&A by value, driven by significant deals such as the ADNOC-OMV merger.
  • Energy – Saw substantial investment interest, particularly in clean energy, aligning with regional development agendas.

Financials

  • $115.5 billion – Total M&A value in MENA for the first half of 2025.
  • $30.85 billion – Value of Borealis AG's acquisition of Borouge PLC.
  • $76.1 billion – Value of deals Rothschild advised on in MENA.
  • $39.8 billion – Total M&A value targeting the UAE.
  • $64.5 billion – Total outbound M&A value from MENA.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
Borealis AGAcquirerCompanyAustrian chemical producer acquiring Borouge PLC for $30.85 billion.
Borouge PLCTarget companyCompanyUAE-based joint venture between ADNOC and Borealis, targeted by Borealis for acquisition.
RothschildFinancial AdvisorCompanyLed the MENA financial advisor league table for announced M&A.
LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group)Data providerCompanyProvider of M&A data and statistics for the report.
Norton Rose FulbrightLegal AdvisorCompanyProvided strategic insights on MENA M&A activities.