How to find companies to acquire in Portugal

1. Write the thesis before you search

• Sector and activity, described in plain words, not only CAE codes.
• Region (for example Norte, Centro, Lisboa).
• Size range: revenue, EBITDA, number of employees.
• Ownership: family owned, founder led, no private equity in the cap table.
• Deal type: majority buyout, minority stake, add-on to a platform.

2. Screen with validated financial data

Portuguese companies file annual accounts, so revenue, EBITDA, debt and growth can be compared across years. Use data checked against official sources and look at several years, not only the last one.

3. Read ownership and succession signals

The strongest signals of a company that may be open to a deal are often non-financial: founder age, shareholder structure, recent management changes and the absence of a next generation in the business. These are what turn a long list into a short list.

4. Reach the right person

In family businesses the decision maker is usually the founder or main shareholder. A short, specific approach that shows you understand the company works better than a generic letter.

Where Closedata fits

Closedata lets you describe the thesis in plain language and returns ranked targets with financials, ownership and succession signals, using data from its official partnership with Informa D&B, updated daily. It also works inside Claude and ChatGPT through an MCP connector.

Frequently asked questions

Can I search Portuguese companies without using CAE codes?

Yes. With Closedata you describe the activity in plain language and the AI matches companies by what they actually do, not only by their registered code.

Are most acquisition targets in Portugal for sale publicly?

No. Many good targets are private family businesses that are not actively marketed, so they have to be identified and approached directly.