MAWEEKLY · 27 de abril de 2026

Week 17 (2026) in M&A and Private Equity🛰️🇪🇸

Transactions of the Week (April 20 - 26)

Hi, I’m Fran Hidalgo-Barquero, Partner at Albia IMAP. This is a weekly newsletter covering M&A and Private Equity transactions in Spain. Contact: Email, LinkedIn.

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Last week, from our Albia IMAP offices in Madrid, I had the opportunity to review the insights behind Q1 2026 M&A and Private Equity activity in Spain. If you would like to join future editions, feel free to reach out to me.

• Applus+ Laboratories announced the acquisition of Instrumentación y Servicios de Calibración (ISCAL), a Gijón‑based metrology firm founded in 1999. The deal expands Applus+’s footprint in northern Spain and adds ISCAL’s accredited ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory, which covers temperature, humidity, pressure, electricity, flow, mass, gases, pH and conductivity. ISCAL’s 66‑person team serves regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, aerospace and automotive, offering calibration, maintenance and measurement‑equipment sales.1

• Phenna Group (Oakley Capital) announced the acquisition of Spain’s AUCATEL‑EIC, its 10th deal in 2026, to strengthen its Urban Verification, Environmental Inspection, and Industrial Safety capabilities within the Built Environment Division for the EMEA region. Founded in 2009 with offices in Barcelona and Madrid, AUCATEL‑EIC brings a market‑leading position in compliance services and a seasoned management team. 2

• IZERTIS has completed the full acquisition of two Spanish firms: ACK STORM, a Catalan company, and SADE CONSULTORÍA TÉCNICA, based in Madrid. The acquisitions aim to strengthen IZERTIS’s market presence and expand its service portfolio across the Iberian Peninsula. By integrating ACKstorm’s expertise and SADE’s consulting capabilities, IZERTIS seeks to enhance its technological offerings, foster innovation, and deliver comprehensive solutions to a broader client base. 3

• Universitas and Grupo Iruña are launching a new hospitality group, backed by Stellum Food&Tech, aiming to exceed €20 million in revenue and employ around 200 staff. The partnership combines Universitas’s expertise in university and corporate catering with Grupo Iruña’s high‑end event and institutional services, leveraging iconic brands like Café Iruña. Backed by Stellum Capital, the venture seeks to strengthen market position, expand into new geographies, and compete with multinational players while preserving the founders’ values of proximity and heritage.4

• Attlon (Henko Partners) announced the integration of Grupo SVC Seguridad, bolstering its presence in northern Spain and reinforcing its status as a leading industrial security services platform. Founded in 1990 in the Basque Country, SVC specializes in installing and maintaining industrial security systems and will collaborate closely with Electro Alavesa Seguridad to create commercial and operational synergies in the region. The addition of SVC’s Central Alarm Receiving Center (CRA) marks a strategic milestone, expanding Attlon’s end‑to‑end security offerings and enabling more comprehensive coverage. This deal is Attlon’s fourth acquisition overall and its second in 2026, underscoring the company’s rapid growth since its 2025 inception. 5

• Sngular has acquired AMS Solutions, integrating a team of about 50 professionals renowned for implementing best practices in software development and leveraging AI‑assisted managed services. The merger strengthens Sngular’s presence in northwestern Spain, enhancing its capacity to deliver complex projects and serve global corporate clients. Executives highlight the acquisition as a natural growth step, emphasizing technical excellence, AI‑driven development, and expanded service offerings across all geographies. 6

• Squirrel, a technology group in the media sector, has agreed to acquire 100 % of Trihaus, a U.S.‑based influencer and content‑creator representation firm. Trihaus manages over 50 creators whose combined audiences exceed 500 million followers worldwide and serves top brands such as Red Bull, Samsung, and Epic Games. In 2025, Trihaus reported revenue above $5 million, up 52 % from 2024, and an EBITDA of $1.4 million, representing a 28 % margin. The deal strengthens Squirrel’s digital capabilities, expands its high‑growth, value‑added segments, and creates synergies with its Media division, reinforcing its position as an integrated tech‑media group. 7

• Reale Group has acquired a 18.9% stake in Spain’s Canitas veterinary clinic network, complementing Aurica Capital’s majority ownership established in 2023. Canitas, founded in 2012, operates 28 clinics with over 150 professionals, serving more than 50,000 pets through a subscription‑based model that offers unlimited veterinary care without copayments or waiting periods. Executives highlight the deal’s strategic fit for diversifying Reale’s portfolio, expanding its presence in animal‑health services, and fostering growth across other markets where the group operates. 8

• The Mexican conglomerate Grupo Galería has finalized the acquisition of Avanza Food (Abac), despite opposition from major banks such as Santander, CaixaBank and BBVA, which argued the price was insufficient and the proposal harmful to the bankruptcy process. The court in Madrid (Mercantile Court No. 5) overruled these objections, endorsing the sale of Avanza Food’s assets, including Tony Roma’s and Carl’s Jr., to Grupo Galería. The deal is backed by CKE, the master franchisee of Carl’s Jr. 9

• Envases Sanz Belda, a Spanish manufacturer of polypropylene buckets for paints, food, agro‑chemicals, and other industrial uses, has been acquired by search fund Preludio Partners. Preludio plans to pursue additional bolt‑on acquisitions to strengthen its domestic market position, accelerate international growth and enter new sectors such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. In 2025, Envases Sanz Belda reported a turnover of about €12 million.10

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