Alternative strategies

Carmignac Portfolio Merger Arbitrage Plus

Global marketArticle 8
Share Class

LU2585801173

An active absolute return strategy focusing on merger arbitrage opportunities
  • An active merger arbitrage strategy that aims to provide positive absolute returns, with limited correlation to equity markets.
  • An alternative strategy focusing on officially announced M&A deals in the developed markets.
  • Strategy offering positive correlation with interest rates.
Risk Indicator

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Lowest risk Highest risk
Recommended Minimum Investment Horizon
3 years
Cumulative Performance since launch
+ 12.2 %
-
-
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+ 3.9 %
From 14/04/2023
To 05/03/2026
Calendar Year Performance 2025
-
-
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-
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+ 3.1 %
+ 3.6 %
+ 4.5 %
Net Asset Value
112.20 €
Asset Under Management
245 M €
Net Equity Exposure30/01/2026
89.6 %
SFDR - Fund Classification

Article

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Data as of:  Mar 5, 2026.
?Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.
The return may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations, for the shares which are not currency-hedged.

Carmignac Portfolio Merger Arbitrage Plus fund performance

Take a look at the Fund's performance supported by our Fund managers’ market commentary and strategy insight.

Our monthly comments

Data as of:  Feb 27, 2026.
Fund management team

Market environment

  • In equity and credit markets, February was marked by investor concerns about the impact of AI on certain sectors, particularly Technology. Software companies were especially affected, with sector indices declining by around 15% over the month.
  • The Merger Arbitrage strategy was indirectly impacted by this market downturn. Technical de-risking was observed across several ongoing transactions, notably Electronic Arts, Clearwater Analytics and Cantaloupe.
  • While these market moves do not call into question the completion of these transactions, they nevertheless increase downside risk in the event of deal failure, prompting market participants to reduce positions.
  • Around fifteen transactions reached completion during the month, including several sizeable deals such as CyberArk Software ($24bn), Dayforce ($11bn) and Comerica ($11bn).
  • The tightening of spreads, followed by capital redeployment, contributed positively to the strategy’s performance over the month.
  • M&A activity remained robust, with 29 new transactions announced for a total value of €121bn.
  • Finally, as we had anticipated, these market conditions proved favourable for the return of bidding wars.
  • Three notable examples stood out during the month: Paramount’s improved $31 offer for Warner Bros Discovery; the takeover battle for Janus Henderson between Trian and Victory; and the improved offer terms for International Personal Finance by Basepoint Capital.

Performance commentary

  • The fund delivered a positive performance over the month.
  • The main positive contributors to performance were Janus Henderson, Tegna, and Toyota Industries.
  • The main detractors from performance were Cantaloupe, Norfolk Southern, and Clearwater Analytics.

Outlook strategy

  • The fund’s investment rate stands at 118%.
  • With 55 positions in the portfolio, diversification remains very strong.
  • 2025 marked a genuine rebound in M&A activity, with deal value up 44% and the number of transactions increasing by 12% compared with 2024.
  • The primary driver of this renewed cycle has been a more favourable antitrust environment globally: the change in U.S. administration following Trump’s election; the publication of the Draghi report in Europe recommending the emergence of national champions to compete globally; U.K. regulators being encouraged by policymakers to prioritise economic activity; and the Japanese market continuing to open to foreign capital.
  • Lower interest rates have also been a key catalyst for the recovery in M&A activity, enabling the return of private equity funds, which accounted for around 26% of buyers in 2025.
  • Another notable and perhaps the most encouraging development has been the return of mega-deals (i.e. transactions exceeding $10bn), with cumulative deal value in 2025 twice that observed in 2024.
  • Overall, 2025 was the strongest year for M&A activity since 2020.
  • We believe these favourable tailwinds should continue to support M&A activity in the coming quarters, making us highly optimistic about our strategy in 2026.

Performance Overview

Data as of:  Mar 5, 2026.
?Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor). The Fund presents a risk of loss of capital.
Morningstar Rating™ :  © Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; may not be copied or distributed; and is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.
Source: Carmignac at 07/03/2026

Carmignac Portfolio Merger Arbitrage Plus Portfolio overview

Below is an overview of the composition of the portfolio.

Geographical Breakdown

Data as of:  Jan 30, 2026.
North America59.9 %
Others16.0 %
Europe ex-EUR9.5 %
Europe EUR4.2 %
View details

Key figures

Below are the key figures for the Fund, which will give you a clearer idea of the Fund's management and equity positioning.

Exposure Data

Data as of:  Jan 30, 2026.
Net Equity Exposure89.6 %
Number of long strategies57
Merger arbitrage exposure116.8 %
Cash and other6.0 %

The strategy in a nutshell

Discover the Fund’s main features and benefits through the words of the Fund Managers.
Fund Management Team
The advantage of Merger Arbitrage strategy is that it carries virtually no market risk. The only associated risk is that of a deal failure. That is why our approach is very cautious on two levels: we’re very selective in choosing the deals and we aim to maintain a highly diversified portfolio.
View Fund's characteristics

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The reference to a ranking or prize, is no guarantee of the future results of the UCIS or the manager.
Carmignac Portfolio is a sub-fund of Carmignac Portfolio SICAV, an investment company under Luxembourg law, conforming to the UCITS Directive.
The information presented above is not contractually binding and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor), where applicable. Investors may lose some or all of their capital, as the capital in the UCI is not guaranteed. Access to the products and services presented herein may be restricted for some individuals or countries. Taxation depends on the situation of the individual. The risks, fees and recommended investment period for the UCI presented are detailed in the KIDs (key information documents) and prospectuses available on this website. The KID must be made available to the subscriber prior to purchase.). The reference to a ranking or prize, is no guarantee of the future results of the UCITS or the manager.