Mercal Celebrates 30 Years Since Its Foundation

30 Years of Mercal Consulting Group

Three Decades Creating Partnerships for the Future

Celebrating 30 years of existence is a historic milestone that symbolizes solidity, adaptability, and excellence. Founded in 1996, Mercal Consulting Group celebrates its 30th anniversary (1996 – 2026), reaffirming the purpose that has defined it since day one, supporting the business community to grow, innovate, and cross borders. Throughout this journey, the company has established itself as a reference in Portugal and abroad, guided by the vision of creating partnerships for the future.

A Journey of Growth and Globalization

What began as a project focused on supporting Portuguese companies has evolved into a global-scale operation. Today, Mercal has developed more than 3,000 projects and relies on experienced teams across four continents.

We highlight two key milestones in this international expansion:

• Integration into IMCN (2004): Joining the Independent Management Consultancies Network enabled Mercal to rely on a network of 230 consultants spread across Europe, Africa, America, and Asia;
• Entry into TRANSEO (2022): This marked a strengthening of Mercal’s activity in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and financial restructuring through this leading international association.

Experts Across the Entire Business Life Cycle

Mercal stands out for its ability to support clients at every stage, from introduction and growth to maturity and decline. As a national leader in the provision of M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) services, it offers a comprehensive portfolio that includes:

• Investment Projects and Incentives: Specialized consulting in applications for Portugal 2030, PRR (Recovery and Resilience Plan), and specific support for the Tourism sector;
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Confidential processes of buying, selling, and valuing companies;
• Restructuring and Turnaround: Critical support in the financial recovery of organizations;
• Internationalization and Marketing: Strategies for exports and entry into new markets.

Real Impact: Success Stories

Over these 30 years, Mercal has stood alongside those who “make things happen,” with visible impact across multiple sectors. Here are some examples of Mercal’s work:

• Tourism: Support for Douro Palace Hotel Resort & Spa and Grupo Lux Hotels in securing financing and growing their businesses;
• Internationalization: Support for Inosat in achieving a global scale (present in 26 countries) and for Airfree in entering markets such as the USA, China, and Dubai;
• Efficiency and Mergers: Facilitated the successful merger of the Beja and Brinches Agricultural Cooperative, increasing its competitiveness in the Iberian market;
• Institutional Partnerships: Collaboration with IAPMEI in the turnaround of around a dozen award-winning companies.

Looking to the Future with Ambition

Celebrating 30 years is, for Mercal, a moment of deep gratitude to its employees, partners, and clients. From paper-based processes to today’s digitalization and transparency demands, Mercal has evolved without ever losing focus on creating real value.

This is the moment to look back with pride and forward with renewed ambition. Because, Now, the Future Begins.

Congratulations, Mercal!