M&A tax

M&A transactions are key moments in any company’s progress, and also moments when years of tax planning can be undone, especially cross-border operations.

Private equity funds and multinational corporations are increasingly looking to Africa and Middle East as a strategic growth frontier. Behind this compelling investment story lies a complex and often underestimated tax landscape.

Our approach

Unlike more mature M&A markets, African and Middle East jurisdictions present a highly diverse and evolving tax environment. What may appear to be a commercially attractive transaction can quickly become entangled in unexpected tax liabilities, compliance burdens, or post-deal disputes if not carefully structured from the outset.

At the same time, Africa and Middle East offer significant tax opportunities for well-informed investors. Incentive regimes, special economic zones, treaty networks, investment protections can materially enhance deal value when properly leveraged.

This study explores the key tax traps and opportunities shaping M&A transactions across the African and Middle East regions, drawing in recent deals, regulatory trends and practical experience form the ground.

Within Forvis Mazars, tax is a vital part of our global, cross‑disciplinary M&A service that brings together advisory, valuation, due diligence and integration consulting. Our understanding of the full transaction lifecycle helps us deliver key tax insights at the speed required to secure opportunities and achieve optimal outcomes.

Our network spans more than 90 countries and territories, including jurisdictions such as Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast, UAE, Turkey where tax systems continue to evolve and where transactions can be affected by issues such as transfer pricing and rules on controlled foreign companies.

We offer dedicated assistance to a broad range of private equity and corporate clients — both listed and privately owned — for whom a major cross‑border M&A transaction can be transformative.

Our services

We offer tax advice covering:

• Direct advice on transaction structure.
• Tax risk assessment / due diligences.
• Strategic advice on tax for holding companies and other new corporate structures.
• Advice on tax‑efficient deal financing.
• Advice on tax‑efficient return of funds to investors after disposal.
• Advice on post‑acquisition structuring.

Our tools & solutions

Our ability to combine internationally relevant deal experience with in‑depth knowledge of local tax systems enables us to support your business objectives in the most tax‑efficient manner.

A single point of contact ensures that guidance is coordinated even for the most complex transactions.

Our people

We are proud of our diverse, inclusive and highly international culture. Forvis Mazars’ international tax team provides services across five continents and has a strong understanding of tax rules at both national and international levels. They can provide specialist advice ranging from cross‑border mergers and acquisitions to transfer pricing, international financing operations and the set‑up of new activities overseas.