The €750 million acquisition of a leading Maltese telecom provider by Goldman Sachs Alternatives was a strong signal that global institutional investors are prepared to deploy significant capital into Maltese assets.

What has PEVCA Malta been working on since its launch in 2024?

Since its launch, PEVCA Malta has focused on building strong foundations for the private capital sector. The association now counts over 80 members, including fund managers, family offices and leading advisory firms, making it the central network for private capital activity in Malta. It has established itself as the sector’s main voice, actively engaging with policymakers to shape regulatory improvements and support incentives that make Malta a more competitive base for PE and VC funds.

Have you seen any changes in the private equity and venture capital space in Malta in recent months?

While the sector is still developing, the past year has seen meaningful progress, especially in larger-scale investment. For example, the acquisition of leading telecom provider Melita by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, valued at around €750 million, has been a strong signal that global institutional investors are prepared to deploy significant capital into Maltese assets.

On the ecosystem side, the recently launched €10 million Malta Venture Capital Fund supports early-stage, high-growth companies and helps close the seed-to-scale funding gap, while events like the EUStartups Summit and Startup Festival Malta have increased global investor visibility and attracted new VC players to the island. Malta Enterprise remains a key player by delivering attractive grant and co-investment schemes that reduce early-stage investment risk.

Are there any gaps in Malta’s private equity and venture capital ecosystem that foreign investors should be aware of?

There is still a shortage of multi-million-euro growth funding needed for Maltese companies to expand abroad, opening the door to foreign private equity funds that can take a leading role in these rounds. This funding gap is compounded by a relatively smaller local Limited Partner (LP) base, constraining the size of indigenous funds.

Meanwhile, investors who bring both capital and operational knowledge (especially in scaling up internationally) can add significant value to fast-growing Maltese companies.

Finally, there is also room for investors experienced in structured exits to help build clearer return pathways, which is crucial for encouraging broader ecosystem participation and attracting further capital.

Many companies that originate in Europe end up going to the US to find the capital they need to grow. What role can Malta play in overcoming this key challenge to Europe’s future economic development?

There is progress at EU level, driven by initiatives to harmonise capital markets and unlock more scale-up financing, such as the work toward a Savings and Investments Union and funding instruments like InvestEU. Malta can play a constructive role as a flexible, wellregulated jurisdiction able to pilot innovative fund structures and financial models, and as a gateway for non-EU capital seeking a stable, English-speaking EU base.

What Malta offers is stability and strategic optionality, with strong regulatory standards and political stability providing a safe and credible base for investment operations. Fund managers can also service investors across the EU from a single Maltese set-up, reducing operational and regulatory complexity. Malta’s geographical position should not be overlooked – being between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East makes it an effective hub for regional investment exposure while maintaining EU protection.

This interview was first published in the 2026 edition of Malta Invest, the sister brand to MaltaInvest.mt and produced by Content House Group.