Another move in the right direct for Malta! The establishment of the Malta Private Equity Venture Capital Association (PEVCA Malta) was formally launched last month. This is great news for startups and scaleups based in Malta including Fintech companies. In the past, Malta struggled to create the necessary support structures for companies to be able to scale up. Recently we have seen a number of initiatives including the launch of a 10m venture capital fund and now the launch of PEVCA.
PEVCA is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote and support the development of the private equity and venture capital industry in Malta. It brings together investors, family offices, private equity and venture capital fund managers, advisors, and service providers.
The association was established as a space to network and represent the industry with regulators, the government, and policymakers. The launch which was held at the Casino Maltese in Valletta, was addressed by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana who supported the initiative and wished the new association success.
Malta is an ideal jurisdiction to host private equity and venture capital activity.
Secretary General Herald Bonnici
PEVCA Secretary General Herald Bonnici said “Malta is a dynamic and attractive destination for private equity and venture capital, offering a stable and pro-business environment, a skilled and multilingual workforce, and a strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean with close links to Africa and beyond. The country also boasts a robust and flexible regulatory framework, overseen by the Malta Financial Services Authority, which ensures high standards of governance, transparency, and investor protection,” he said.
PEVCA Chairman Martin Galea also added that while private equity and venture capital were still in their infancy in Malta, he was confident the industry could become a major economic pillar for the country. “To date we have a concentration of capital in property and property speculation,” Galea said.
Galea said the new association aims to promote an understanding of private equity that enables members to invest capital and expertise into improving businesses and generating returns for investors.
“This association is seeking to promote private investment on the island but also to establish Malta as a destination for Private Equity and Venture Capital firms and funds,” he said.
Chairman Martin Galea
Albert Alsina, Board Administrator for PEVCA Malta, closed the launch event by offering the gathering an international perspective on the success of private equity and venture capital in other jurisdictions. “The emergence of the new Private Equity and Venture Capital Association marks a pivotal moment for Malta’s economic landscape” he said.
Positioned as a catalyst for directing Private Equity investments towards promising Maltese projects, our association is committed to facilitating capital access for companies eager to expand,”
Albert Alsina, Board Administrator
Alsina explained that, in a jurisdiction where the PE industry presence remains minimal, the association would work towards reshaping the SME and mid-cap sector. “With the capacity to stimulate growth, inject vital capital, and facilitate global expansion, it’s evident that European counterparts have long embraced this industry as a cornerstone of economic prosperity. Now, Malta must seize the opportunity to catch up and leverage the potential of Private Equity to invigorate its economy,” Alsina concluded.
PEVCA Malta’s was founded by Apex Group (Malta), Calamatta Cuschieri, Ganado Advocates, Mediterrania Capital Partners and NOUV.
