Alternative strategies

Carmignac Portfolio Merger Arbitrage Plus

Global marketArticle 8
Share Class

LU2601234326

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
+ 15.0 %
-
-
-
+ 6.8 %
From 14/04/2023
To 04/12/2025
Calendar Year Performance 2024
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+ 3.9 %
+ 4.6 %
Net Asset Value
114.99 £
Asset Under Management
234 M €
Net Equity Exposure31/10/2025
90.7 %
SFDR - Fund Classification

Article

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Data as of:  Dec 4, 2025.
​Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor).
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:  Nov 28, 2025.
Fund management team

Market environment

  • Over the month of November, the volatility observed in equity markets had no significant impact on Merger Arb spreads, which in most cases continued to tighten.
  • It is worth noting, however, the unexpected failure of the takeover of Bavarian Nordic by Permira, following shareholder opposition despite an improved offer price in October.
  • M&A activity remained very strong in November, with 18 new transactions announced totalling $125bn.
  • According to Goldman Sachs, November marks the fifth consecutive month with deal volumes above the historical average. Growth was primarily driven by the U.S., notably through three mega-deals: Kenvue/Kimberly-Clark ($42bn), Exact Sciences/Abbott Laboratories ($18bn), and Axalta Coating Systems/Akzo Nobel ($10bn).
  • It was also an excellent month for private equity groups, which accounted for nearly 40% of buyers, compared with a historical average of 25–30%.
  • Lastly, a positive surprise came from the U.S. court approval of the acquisition of Surmodics by private equity firm GTCR, yet another setback for the FTC in Trump-era America.

Performance commentary

  • The fund delivered a positive performance over the month.
  • The main positive contributors to performance were Surmodics, Chart Industries, and Toyota Industries.
  • The main negative contributors to performance were Bavarian Nordic, Norfolk Southern, and American Woodmark.

Outlook strategy

  • Thanks to strong M&A activity, the fund’s investment rate stands at 130%, an increase compared with the previous month.
  • With more than 60 positions in the portfolio, diversification remains satisfactory: the rise in the investment rate therefore results in only a marginal increase in the fund’s overall risk profile.
  • 2025 marks a genuine rebound in M&A activity, driven in particular by a more favourable antitrust environment worldwide: a change in administration in the U.S. following Trump’s election; the publication of the Draghi report in Europe recommending the emergence of national champions to compete globally; the U.K. regulator being pushed by the political class to prioritize economic activity; and the Japanese market continuing to open up to foreign capital.
  • Lower interest rates are also a key catalyst for the recovery in M&A transactions.
  • Overall, 2025 is expected to be the strongest M&A year since 2020.
  • While instability linked to the tariff war initiated by the Trump administration and ongoing geopolitical tensions slowed the recovery, resulting in activity being less robust than expected in the first half, the volume of announcements in Q3 and the growing number of competitive bidding situations make us highly optimistic for the second half of the year.

Performance Overview

Data as of:  Dec 4, 2025.
​Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performances are net of fees (excluding possible entrance fees charged by the distributor).
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 05/12/2025

Carmignac Portfolio Merger Arbitrage Plus Portfolio overview

Below is an overview of the composition of the portfolio.

Geographical Breakdown

Data as of:  Oct 31, 2025.
North America46.3 %
Europe EUR17.1 %
Others16.1 %
Europe ex-EUR11.2 %
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:  Oct 31, 2025.
Net Equity Exposure90.7 %
Number of long strategies61
Merger arbitrage exposure116.9 %
Cash and other10.7 %

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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Reference to certain securities and financial instruments is for illustrative purposes to highlight stocks that are or have been included in the portfolios of funds in the Carmignac range. This is not intended to promote direct investment in those instruments, nor does it constitute investment advice. The Management Company is not subject to prohibition on trading in these instruments prior to issuing any communication. The portfolios of Carmignac funds may change without previous notice.
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.