Page 18 Partner and Head of the Life Sciences Group NEUWERK Börge Seeger
Page 22 xxxx Milbank LLP Brazil Associate Milbank LLP Alexia Raad
Deal Maker Awards2023 FM
Dear Readers, Welcome to the special edition of Finance Monthly, where we present our prestigious Dealmaker of the Year Awards. An annual celebration, these awards honor the exceptional achievements of the most influential and innovative professionals who have displayed unparalleled excellence in the realm of dealmaking. This year, despite the complexities posed by a global economic landscape in recovery, we’ve seen some truly remarkable transactions that have shaped industries and charted new directions for growth and investment. Our Dealmaker of the Year awardees have not just navigated these turbulent waters with skill and insight but have also demonstrated strategic foresight, remarkable negotiation acumen, and an unwavering commitment to their clients. In this issue, we showcase a diverse group of dealmakers who have made their mark across sectors and regions, from mergers and acquisitions to finance, private equity, venture capital, real estate, and beyond. These dealmakers have shown a remarkable ability to create value, drive growth, and deliver solutions that have a transformative impact on businesses. As we unfold the stories of these accomplished individuals, we aim to provide you with an insider’s look into their strategies, their challenges, their victories, and the extraordinary deals that set them apart in 2023. We’ve included comprehensive interviews that delve deep into their thoughts and perspectives on the current state of global finance, the evolving deal-making landscape, and the future of their respective sectors. A standout feature of this issue is our exclusive interview with Borge Seeger of Neuwerk. As an exemplary figure in the finance industry, Seeger’s deal-making strategies have had a transformative impact on Neuwerk and the broader finance community. The Dealmaker of the Year Awards serves as a testament to the tireless efforts and relentless pursuit of excellence by these esteemed professionals. It also reflects Finance Monthly’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and highlighting top-tier talent and innovation within the global financial community. As you navigate through this issue, we hope you find inspiration in these stories of outstanding leadership, tenacity, and strategic insight. Whether you are an investor, a fellow professional in finance, or an interested observer of global financial trends, these pages promise a wealth of knowledge and a fascinating exploration of the art of the deal. Enjoy the read! 7 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 INTRODUCTION Mark Palmer Editor editor@finance-monthly.com
INTRODUCING THE WINNERS...
EUROPE AUSTRIA Emanuel Müller Sazun Kaleb Kitzmüller Haslinger / Nagele Rechtsanwälte GmbH Wilfried Seist DSC Doralt Seist Csoklich Rechtsanwälte BULGARIA Zdravka Ugrinova Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov & Velichkov DENMARK Kristian Vinter Bisgaard Plesner FRANCE Benoît Zagdoun Ayache Law Jean-Baptiste Marchand AMALA Partners 42 Racine Avocats 34 Nicolas MASSELINE WARGNY KATZ Rodrigue TCHOUALE DE PARDIEU BROCAS MAFFEI A.A.R.P.I. 44 Romain Maulin Maulin Avocats Stéphane Gasne DS Avocats GERMANY Andreas Brinkrolf Quantum Partners 46 Börge Seeger NEUWERK 18 Holger Fries WALTER FRIES Stella Posnak Deloitte GmbH Torsten Adam (ARTEMIS Group) 26 Jochen Reis Rödl & Partner GmbH 48 Parwäz Rafiqpoor BDO 32 Wolfgang Hermann Hermann & Kollegen Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB 38
IRELAND Micheál Grace MASON HAYES & CURRAN ITALY Andrea Novarese White & Case Andrea Pagliara Clearwater International Italy Daniele Ferretti Ferretti Firm Domenico Costantino Studio Legale Costantino Emanuele Bellani Yard Reaas SpA Luca Calò Avvocati e Aziendalisti 28 Michele Ferrari FERRARI Studio legale Roberto Cappelli Cappelli RCCD Studio Legale LATVIA Edvards Merhels Merhels Revidenti Konsultanti SIA NORTH MACEDONIA Martin Boskoski Lalicic & Boskoski Law Office POLAND Stephen Horvath Greenberg Traurig PORTUGAL Susana Enes Enes | Cabral RUSSIA Anastasia Konstantinova Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin SPAIN Joaquin Gonzalo DC Advisory 30 Miguel Caamaño CCS Abogados Nicolás Toribio McGauley MARIMÓN Abogados
Pablo Albert BDO SWITZERLAND Christoph Studinka Proventis Partners 54 UNITED KINGDOM Alex Sansom Unbound Real Estate Ltd Alex Trevor Alantra Cyprien Berlan Hill Dickinson LLP David Gerber Bracher Rawlins LLP 56 Finn O’Driscoll Clearwater UK Fiona Wilson Collas Crill LLP Gareth Birch Pannone Corporate LLP Graeme Jones A S Advisory Ltd Ian Wood-Smith Field Seymour Parkes Isabelle Balch Moore Barlow LLP James Towler McCormicks Solicitors JP Irvine Keystone Law Kate Hackett The Wilkes Partnership LLP Mark Hurst Hamlins LLP Mike McKenna Inspire Financial Management Nikola Zahariev Lux Nova Partners Limited Richard Pitt Hazlewoods LLP Sami Fairris KPMG Scott Smith Howes Percival LLP Sonal Shah Pinsent Masons LLP Stuart Laight sjl advisory Vivak Vaish DLA Piper Scotland LLP
Yasmin Bhikha FRP Advisory Trading Limited AMERICAS BRAZIL Alexandre Pierantoni Kroll 60 Alexia Raad Milbank LLP 22 Amanda Peres PBF ADVOGADOS Livia Siviero Bittencourt Huh Lacaz Martins, Pereira Neto, Gurevich & Schoueri CANADA Aldrin Raphael Fernandes A R Business Brokers 62 CHILE Rodolfo Vega Baraona Marshall COLUMBIA Diana Espitia Tupaz Fagua López & Asociados ECUADOR Alejandra Soriano Flor Bustamante Pizarro & Hurtado EL SALVADOR Claudia Pereira MAYORA & MAYORA, S.C. Zygmunt Brett BLP Legal MEXICO Carlos Eduardo Gomez Garrigues Javier Pérez Moreno Bello, Gallardo, Bonequi y García, S.C. USA Carlos Ardila LATHAM & WATKINS LLP Christophe Morvan Drake Star
Don Ho Generational Equity 64 GeroldNiggemann Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Greg Fincke Equiteq Ignacio Kleiman Antarctica I Advisors John Michael VE Law Kristaq Profkola Wolf Theiss Lauren Boglivi Proskauer Marcel Goncalves Merchantec Capital Marisa White Arnold & Porter Michael Gray Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP Mike Ringler Skadden Ralph Voltmer Covington & Burling LLP 66 William Haddad Venable LLP Zachary Jacobs Morrison Cohen LLP ASIA CHINA Zhenyue LIN Zhong Lun HONG KONG Canny LAU Deacons LI Ya Zhong Lun Law Firm Tim Gardner Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP 74 INDIA Vikram Chandrashekhar Bain & Company 76
MALAYSIA Jeff Leong Pak Lim Jeff Leong, Poon & Wong 78 SAUDI ARABIA Stephen Hutton Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP SINGAPORE Steven Lo Drew & Napier LLC 80 UAE Jimmy Haoula Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP 82 AFRICA KENYA Mugambi Nandi KN Law LLP 86 NIGERIA Asue Ighodalo Banwo & Ighodalo 88 SOUTH AFRICA Brent Williams Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr 90 Marcel Gonçalves Merchantec Capital 92 AUSTRALASIA AUSTRALIA Brett Cohen Clayton UTZ 96 Jeremy Wilkin THOMSON GEER Neville Spry Gresham Partners Ltd 98 NEW ZEALAND Kenneth Leong Tiaki Capital Limited 100 Mark Stuart MinterEllisonRuddWatts 102
FEATURED WINNERS.
18 Börge Seeger NEUWERK University Clinic of Cologne agrees collaboration with BioNTech 22 Alexia Raad Milbank LLP Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year 26 Torsten Adam ARTEMIS Group M&A Consultancy Firm of the Year 28 Studio Calò Geminale Sonepar’s acquisition of Cioffi Renato 30 Joaquín Gonzalo DC Advisory (Madrid Office) DC Advisory advised Exterior Pluson its debt refinancing 32 Parwäz Rafiqpoor BDO Restructuring and Insolvency Lawyer of the Year 34 Racine Avocats Mergers & Acquisitions Team of the Year 38 Dr. Wolfgang Hermann Hermann & Kollegen Rechtsanwälte Real Estate Transactions Adviser of the Year
Börge Seeger Partner and Head of the Life Sciences Group NEUWERK www.neuwerk.legal
many of them, I am their ‘go-to guy’ for both IP and IT matters. I am a German-qualified lawyer and certified licensing professional. I co-author and edit Newsdienst Compliance, one of Germany’s leading law journals for corporate and compliance managers, where I write on IP, licensing, IT and data protection matters. I also contributed a chapter on healthcare privacy for the second edition of the German Handbook of Pharmaceutical Contracts. I am a lecturer at the Center for Transnational IP, Media and Technology Law and Policy at Bucerius Law School (Hamburg, Germany), and a fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School, United States. A few words about NEUWERK: NEUWERK is a boutique law firm that was founded in 2016 by a group of former Freshfields lawyers. As of today, our headcount amounts to 33 attorneys, each of them specialised in one of the following legal fields: corporate/M&A, IP/IT, employment law, real estate law, (criminal) compliance and disputes and arbitration. We advise our clients with small, well-rehearsed teams of experts who work hand in hand, seamlessly and efficiently. Our particular setup means that we can provide clients with fast, continuous advice across disciplines without ever losing momentum. We combine the speed and openness of a boutique with the full service and quality of a large law firm. Clients regularly praise us for our pragmatic, hands-on approach – and tell us we are fun to work with! University Clinic of Cologne agrees collaboration with BioNTech 19 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany About Börge My name is Börge Seeger, and I am an IP/IT partner and head of the Life Sciences Group here at NEUWERK in Hamburg, Germany. My practice covers the full range of IP and IT law, including IP licensing and partnering, technology transfers, joint ventures and alliances, software and IT outsourcing projects, data protection and privacy, as well as complex commercial law matters. In addition, I have broad experience in assisting clients from the life sciences sector. I regularly advise biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers on product divestitures, licensing arrangements, R&D collaborations, clinical trial agreements and distribution matters, as well as on numerous other issues relating to the development, manufacture and marketing of their products. I recently advised Polpharma Biologics, a leading European biopharmaceutical company, on a global cooperation and licensing agreement for the joint development and marketing of biosimilar Natalizumab with Novartis generics subsidiary Sandoz. I also advised Fresenius on the global outsourcing of large parts of its central IT to Capgemini (encompassing more than 1,000 sites around the globe) and ITG, a German-based specialised radiopharmaceutical company, on a long-term global supply and licence agreement with Novartis subsidiary and French cancer specialist AAA. Clients regularly recommend me as “incredibly responsive” – to
20 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany To begin with, what was it that sparked your interest in law? At the age of 16/17, I spent a year abroad in the United States (I went to high school in LA). It was during this time that I first came into contact with ‘Moot Court’, a simulated court proceeding for high school students. I found that incredibly exciting – and by the end of the year I knew I wanted to study and practice law. Why did you choose IP and IT law as your primary areas of specialisation? I have always had a knack for IT. While I was in law school in the mid-90s, I coded some of the first websites for German courts in my spare time and was involved in some IT projects in the German healthcare sector. Later in my job I realised that good IT advice requires a deep understanding of IP issues. Today at NEUWERK, I have the great privilege to work exactly at the intersection of these topics: We regularly advise pharmaceutical and biotech companies on e-health and (data) licensing issues. For me, this is the best combination of both worlds! How have you seen these fields change over the course of your career? I think IP and IT law remain some of the most dynamic areas of law around. In the 15 years that I have been practicing law, these fields have changed fundamentally. To give some examples, we have seen massive new legislation to protect privacy (e.g. GDPR and CCPA), increased enforcement of computer crime and cybercrime laws, new protections for online copyright infringement, the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), the need for increased data security and regulation and the development of cloud computing and AI. In your view, what are the most interesting current trends emerging from the IP and IT sectors? One of the most interesting current trends we are witnessing is the mass emergence of AI, with tools like ChatGPT being accessible to everyone – and we are debating whether we will now see the ‘death of copyright’ (I for one think so). What do you enjoy most about your current role? In my role as a partner here at NEUWERK, I am often asked to be actively involved in two sectors that are particularly close to my heart, namely Life Sciences and IT. With our focus on licensing and commercial work, we are often invited by our clients to be involved in deals and collaborations in the development of new and innovative products. Typically these are very exciting developments in which not only the medical world but also the general public has a great interest. I really enjoy this work – I find it intellectually challenging and incredibly exciting! Can you tell us anything about significant past deals you have worked on? A few years ago, I advised BioNTech, a leading German biotech company specialising in immunotherapies (particularly mRNA therapies), on a series of licensing collaborations to commercialise novel mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies. These collaborations have the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment by providing personalised cancer vaccines for many tumours. Then last year, the University Clinic of Cologne asked me to advise them on an out-licensing of a novel compound to BioNTech (i.e. to effectively sit on the other side of the negotiating table). That was a lot of fun – it gave me a chance to meet my old contacts at BioNTech again and, at the same time, do my part in aligning the different interests of the contracting parties. Is there a personal philosophy that you follow which drives you to achieve the best possible results for your clients? I think it is important to stay curious. Curiosity is a vital ingredient for becoming a good inventor
21 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany or scientist, but I think it is also key to our work as lawyers. Deal counsel have the opportunity to witness such incredibly exciting and innovative developments. We bring our expertise to the table – and yet we are only a small component in the whole. I like to completely immerse myself and learn as much as I can about the client and the technology before I really start advising. What does this award mean to you? I am extremely pleased to receive this award. Of course, my team and I are grateful for the accolade. But I also see the award as recognition for a subject that (unfortunately) still leads a bit of a shadowy existence: licensing and collaborations in life sciences. It would be great if this award can contribute a little bit to making this subject better known. Is there any advice that you would give to prospective IP and IT lawyers looking to emulate your success? I would advise prospective IP and IT colleagues to look at our subject holistically. Do not focus too early on only one (small) specialist subject within the broad field of IP/IT, but recognise the many similarities and repetitions, regardless of whether you are working in patent law, (software) copyright or trade secret protection. For all those who work outside the subject of IP/IT, our field is a special matter anyway. What are your current plans for 2023? Earlier this year we expanded my team – we are now five lawyers focused on advising on life sciences transactions and commercial work. In 2023, we will continue to pursue this focus; we will continue to grow our client base (including in academia) and we may soon have the opportunity to be involved in some truly pioneering collaborations again.
Milbank LLP Milbank is a leading international law firm. Based in New York City and with offices in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, London, Frankfurt, Munich, São Paulo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo, the firm is globally recognised for its lawyers’ ability to handle complex and high-profile cases and business transactions. With over 150 years of history, Milbank is a major player in corporate law globally with especially enthusiastic praise from financial institutions and its many corporate clients. About Alexia Alexia Raad is an associate at Milbank’s São Paulo office and a member of the firm’s Global Capital Markets group. Her practice primarily concerns the provision of New York law and US federal securities law advice in the areas of capital markets, corporate finance, M&A and corporate governance. The majority of Alexia’s clients consist of Latin American companies and US and Latin American banks who seek her advice on cross-border equity and debt securities offerings, liability management transactions, debt renegotiations and M&A transactions. In addition, Alexia frequently advises SEC-reporting foreign private issuers on matters relating to corporate governance and US Exchange Act compliance, including their ongoing disclosure obligations. Her experience covers a broad range of industries, including mining, transportation, logistics, infrastructure, financial institutions, retail and manufacturing. Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year Alexia Raad Associate Milbank LLP
23 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany T: +55 11-3927-7700 F: +55 11-3927-7777 E: araad@milbank.com
24 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Brazil Over the course of her career to date, Alexia has advised a number of high-profile Brazilian and multinational corporations. Her clients include Avianca, Braskem, CSN, Embraer, GOL Airlines, Itaú Unibanco, Klabin, Magazine Luiza, Minsur and Simpar Group, among others. Alexia’s work has won her recognitions and accolades. While earning her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, she was a dean’s scholar, as well as senior editor for the Virginia Journal of International Law and business editor for the Virginia Environmental Law Journal. She earned her BS summa cum laude from Babson College. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. An Interview with Alexia To begin with, can you share a little about yourself and your career journey to date? After growing up in Miami, I did my bachelor’s degree in business in Boston. Without much clarity as to what would come next, I went to the University of Virginia for my JD. The practice of law was an acquired taste for me, and it was only when I joined Milbank that my journey here actually looked like one deliberate path and not like a sequence of improvised steps. Capital markets provide a great fit for a lawyer with a business background, and what I learned from accounting and finance courses in college informs my work and my interactions with bankers, auditors and the treasury teams at our corporate clients every day. Could you describe the work that you handle today? We work as an extension of the New York capital markets group focused on transactions of Brazilian companies. The Brazilian market is active enough to have justified a physical presence by Milbank since 2010 and this physical and even cultural proximity to our clients in Brazil is critical to the service we provide. I am the only American in the capital markets team in São Paulo but I always say I have a Brazilian soul, and while personal reasons brought me to Brazil in the first place, Milbank was the reason I stayed. What sets your team at Milbank apart in your sector? We have the resources, precedents and pool of knowledge of a global firm with numerous practice areas and offices around the world, but our day-to-day is defined by close relationships with our colleagues that we build by working together as a team on deal after deal. The Brazilian world of capital markets is a surprisingly small community. We see the same handful of Brazilian and US law firms and auditors on almost all of our deals and many of our clients are repeat clients – either frequent issuers or banks that advise regularly on transactions. This means we have the opportunity to build relationships with the broader working group. If there is one thing I love most about our work, it is that everyone in a working group wants the same thing: a successful deal. I try to not lose sight of this mindset because it is what fosters collaboration and gets us to the finish line effectively and with a smile. What are your plans for the future of your work? My career only began in a meaningful way at Milbank. When I joined, like many junior associates, I thought it would be a chapter of my life that would last at most a few years, but as I learned and worked on more deals and looked forward to what was next, the years passed by, and now this firm, this practice area and this city are my home. In our work, perfection is expected always, everything is due yesterday and the pace and pressure do not look sustainable from the outside. If it were not for the partners and clients I work with and the transactions we work on, this chapter would have ended a while ago for me. Looking forward, I hope to stay at Milbank forever – I do not think our team dynamics, our client roster and our reputation in the market are easily matched. I used to feel uncomfortable with any type of ‘sales’ or ‘marketing’ initiative, but I now find it natural to network and speak about our team and our work enthusiastically and to seek out new clients because I truly believe that we offer the best.
www.milbank.com “I am forever grateful to Fabiana Sakai and Tobias Stirnberg, the partners of our São Paulo office, for sharing their passion for our work and being wonderful examples of a life worth living all around.”
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany Torsten Adam Managing Partner ARTEMIS Group About Torsten Torsten Adam, Managing Partner of ARTEMIS Group, has more than 25 years of work experience in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions, corporate finance and advisory services. His core competencies are in the fields of M&A transaction management, buy & build projects, structured and project finance as well as advisory services. He has been involved in numerous projects in the sectors industrial engineering, real estate, agriculture & food, and renewable energy. Besides domestic transactions, Mr. Adam has overseen various cross-border M&A transactions with involvement from Asia, Africa, Americas and Europe. INDUSTRY FOCUS To generate maximum value in every deal, ARTEMIS Group has established best practice groups in specific industries, coordinated by a global lead partner. Currently, ARTEMIS Group focuses on the following sectors: Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing, Real Estate and Construction, and Healthcare. www.artemis-group.com
ARTEMIS Group ARTEMIS Group is an international and cross-sector corporate finance and M&A consulting boutique for start-ups and medium-sized companies, active in the market since 2001. Its core services cover the sectors of Mergers & Acquisitions, corporate finance and advisory services. With its own offices in Munich and Singapore and a broad strategic partner network, ARTEMIS Group has a footprint in all relevant markets. As a strong partner, ARTEMIS Group guides its clients from first venture capital financing rounds to subsequent expansion financings and classical corporate financing. Beyond, ARTEMIS Group advises companies in buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions. ARTEMIS Group leads its clients through these complex processes. In addition, ARTEMIS Group structures and realizes buy & build concepts with renowned family offices and entrepreneurial families. Long-term customer relations are built on trust, reliable statements and long-term cooperation in partnerships. The consistently excellent results are made possible particularly by the experienced, highly qualified professionals well-versed in their fields and by the excellent, global networks in all relevant markets. Thereby ARTEMIS Group achieves the best possible results for their clients. With the integrated M&A transaction management 4.0, ARTEMIS Group bundles all necessary technical components for a successful transaction, in which ARTEMIS Group is at the center of interaction between companies, external consultants and investors. Within the framework of M&A 4.0, ARTEMIS Group brings its experience in Mergers & Acquisitions projects in terms of integrated control tools, project management tools and more. M&A Consultancy Firm of the Year Our Latest Milestones In the last 24 months, ARTEMIS Group supported international family offices in the structuring and realization of a buy & build craftsman holding: from raising capital to the execution of the buy side transactions. During this time, the foundation was laid for a holding company with more than 100 million € turnover per year. In addition, ARTEMIS Group is also involved in the structuring and financing of different buy & build holding companies in the sectors of agriculture, healthcare and real estate/construction. In the field of agriculture, ARTEMIS Group supported the structuring and realization of a cross-border joint venture of seed breeding companies with an international footprint. For different types of start-ups ARTEMIS Group has been the leading advisor in fund raising, exceeding amounts of 10 million €. "Long-term customer relations are built on trust, reliable statements and long-term cooperation in partnerships."
Studio Calò Geminale Studio Calò Geminale is a Company born from the need of companies to receive consultancy in the legal, economic and financial fields involving commercial law, adequate administrative accounting structures and the company crisis. The goal is to provide to the Client integrated and coordinated consultancy, making use of comprehensive services with a high professional content, always paying attention to the specific needs of the client. The activity of the Company is characterized by a specialized approach to the various disciplines. Each matter is dealt by professionals who have gained significant experience in the reference sector, providing timely and adequate solutions in this regard with the relative legal and economic-financial evidence. Safe support for the client cannot do without a modern and decisive approach to the various requests presented to the Company, promoting in this way the best legal and commercial protection of the client, according to his objectives and needs. In particular, the Company, in addition to assisting its clients in the field of commercial law and asset protection operations, is able to offer its advice in the branch of business crisis and in the branch of adequate corporate structures. In particular, it takes care of the implementation in companies of its own and patented economic-financial control and forecasting systems that guarantee business continuity within the context of adequate accounting and administrative structures. Among the latest operations carried out by the Company, it emerges the one managed by the lawyers Luca Calò and Alessandro Calò (Partners) and Dr. Maria Geminale (Partner), who assisted the company Cioffi Renato, specialised in the distribution of electrical material, in the acquisition of the share capital by Sonepar Italia (Sonepar Group) in coordination with Dr. Peter Perrone. Specifically, the Company dealt with all aspects concerning the negotiation and the legal and financial due diligence, also with drafting the contracts for the acquisition of the shares. Sonepar Italia was assisted by Pavia e Ansaldo law Company represented by the lawyers Daniele Carminati (partner) and Maria Giulia Gallinelli (associate). E: m.geminale@studiocalogeminale.it Maria Geminale Founder
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Italy 29 Luca Calò Founder Alessandro Calò Founder Sonepar’s acquisition of Cioffi Renato W: studiocalogeminale-partners.com E: l.calostudiocalogeminale.it / a.calo@studiocalogeminale.it - T: 0245071763
Joaquín Gonzalo Managing Director DC Advisory (Madrid Office) www.dcadvisory.com
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Spain 31 About Joaquín Joaquín Gonzalo is a Managing Director in DC Advisory’s Madrid-based team. He leads the Debt Advisory team and also covers Healthcare. He has over 20 years of Investment banking experience, both in Mergers & Acquisitions, and Debt Advisory. During his career at DC Advisory, he has advised international groups such as Intermas, Idealista, Mémora and Iberchem and investment funds such as Corpfin Capital, Riverside Europe, HIG, DeA Capital and Magnum Industrial Partners. Joaquín’s knowledge of the market, structuring capabilities and ability to understand his clients’ need and to manage complex situation are core to the value he provides in the transactions he advises. Joaquín was a founding partner of Montalbán before its rebranding to DC Advisory in 2019. Prior to this, he worked with PwC, Banesto Corporate Finance and Atlas Capital. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from INSEAD Business School, a degree in Business and Economics from CUNEF University and a degree in Law from UNED in Madrid. DC Advisory DC Advisory is an international investment bank committed to making a difference. Our teams are dedicated to achieving the best outcome for our clients, offering innovative solutions with the right advice customized to each situation. As part of an established global business, we offer a unique platform with access to over 650 professionals in 22 locations throughout Asia, Europe, and the US – a deep, local presence across the world. Across 11 industry focused teams, we offer tailored, independent advice on M&A, debt raisings and restructurings, private capital, and access to unrivalled Asia investment knowledge. Our dedicated team of debt and restructuring professionals provides a full suite of balance sheet solutions in a fully integrated manner (acquisition finance, recapitalisations, refinancing, expansion capital, capital raising, covenant waivers resets and amendments, etc.). We provide experience assisting nearly every type of client, and we are recognised as leaders across our core European and US markets. In 2022, the firm closed 161 transactions across 10 sectors in 29 countries. Of these deals, 42 were in cross-border M&A, 77 were sell-side advice, and 27 were in Debt Advisory. DC Advisory Spain is comprised of more than 36 professionals with a significant track record across multiple sectors – including Financial Services, Education, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Tech & Services. The firm is led by Chairman León Benelbas, CEO Manuel Zulueta and Managing Directors Borja Lería, César García, Henry Berczely, Joaquín Gonzalo, Raúl J Julián and Rodrigo de la Viuda. In Spain, our Debt Advisory team has gained a strong reputation for negotiating with banks and debt funds in a highly complex environment after COVID-19. Amongst our recent transactions, we recently advised a consortium comprising of AXA IM and Swiss Life Asset Managers to raise the debt for the acquisition of Lyntia Networks. Other notable transactions include: advising H.I.G. Capital on its debt refinancing of Exterior Plus, Alantra on its acquisition of AgOlives, and Intermas Group on its debt refinancing & raising of ICO-backed financing. Our M&A team is a renowned expert in the Spanish mid-market, having been involved recently on the sale of Implika to MasterD (KKR), Vitruvian on its investment on Civitatis, Formación Alcalá on its sale to ACON Investment Europe, and DeA Capital on the acquisition of a majority stake of Alnut. To make a difference to people, the planet and progress, DC Advisory has pledged its commitment to three UN Sustainable Development Goals: good health and wellbeing (UN SDG 3), reduced inequalities (UN SDG 10) and climate action (UN SDG 13). Through focusing our efforts and resources on these common goals, we aim to make a difference where we can, to the areas that matter most. DC Advisory advised Exterior Plus on its debt refinancing
32 Parwäz Rafiqpoor Lawyer, Member of the Executive Board BDO www.bdo.de/en-gb
33 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany About Parwäz Parwäz Rafiqpoor is a member of the Executive Board of BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft and Managing Partner of BDO Legal Germany and is responsible for Advisory Services. This includes amongst others M&A Lead Advisory, all transaction service areas as well as Restructuring, Reorganization and Insolvency. He and his team are among the most sought-after experts in M&A consulting in Germany - for national deals and especially in cross-border situations, supported by BDO experts in 164 countries. BDO Germany Partnering our clients for mutual success is what we do. We have national and international cross-service teams, providing clients with a onestop resource for any accounting, taxation, legal or strategic issues that may arise in the scope of a transaction. Our transaction services are amongst best-in-class for decades. BDO’s services thus include all relevant services related to a transaction - such as M&A Lead Advisory (sell-side/buy-side), vendor assistance (Financial, Tax, Legal), due diligences, postmerger integration as well as dispute & litigation support. With this holistic approach, our more than 2,500 transaction experts worldwide were able to assist clients in 2,095 completed deals in 2022, 68 of which were supported by BDO Germany. BDO is highly placed in all important rankings worldwide as a transaction services advisor - BDO in Germany occupies top positions in the midcap sector in all renowned rankings. Restructuring and Insolvency Lawyer of the Year "The once again very good rankings show that BDO is clearly one of the established market leaders in transaction advisory. In an economically and geopolitically challenging year, we were able to maintain and in some areas even further extent our toppositions in the industry, both in Germany and together with our colleagues around the world. In view of the 30 percent slump in M&A volume worldwide, we regard this result as particularly positive," - Parwäz Rafiqpoor.
Racine 40 rue de Courcelles, 75008 PARIS – France W: www.racine.eu T: +33 (0)1 44 82 43 00 34
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 France 35 RACINE Founded in 1981 and possessing a unique culture, Racine positions itself as a true partner by maintaining close proximity to its clients. The firm’s deep technical expertise enables it to provide clients with concrete and practical solutions, and its team’s transverse practice of dispute resolution allows them to truly be a step ahead. Litigation, which is practiced within each department of the firm, has been part of Racine’s DNA since its very creation and represents 50% of the firm’s activities. Racine’s culture is embodied in its organisation, which is designed to create natural interactions among the firm’s departments. This cross-practice approach is a major asset when managing complex and multi-disciplinary matters. Racine’s partners are personally involved in each matter – starting with the definition of the matter’s strategic axes and up through the complete resolution of all issues – and control the practical management of all matters. Finally, Racine’s regional network and international scope ensure that it is able to react no matter where its clients operate. With more than 250 lawyers, Racine is based in France, in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Marseille, Strasbourg and Brussels. Racine is also a member of Multilaw, OMNIA and Eurojuris and maintains close relationships with numerous other foreign firms. Mergers & Acquisitions Team of the Year
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 France RACINE’S COMMITMENTS • Technical expertise: Excellence of the firm’s specialists in the principal areas of law, both in advisory services and litigation. • Effectiveness: Solution-oriented services for specific and concrete results. • Local market knowledge: In-depth knowledge of the situation on the ground and the stakes facing each client, enabling practical support. • Foresight: Depth of focus and transverse expertise contributing to preventing difficulties. • Anticipation: Deep insight and cross skills to prevent difficulties. • Reactivity: Robust team engagement, continuous availability and the direct personal involvement of the firm’s partners. • Holistic Approach: Project-focused structure on a client’s interests, allowing for holistic management of the problems it faces. Maud Bakouche Partner Years of experience: 20 Maud Bakouche works with French and foreign groups and is principally active in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments and joint ventures in France and internationally, particularly in the media sector. She also advises companies and management teams in their fundraising operations. In addition, Maud has developed a special expertise in connection with SPACs (special purpose acquisition companies). She advised the founders of Mediawan (2016) and 2MX Organic (2020), the first two SPACs created in France, and those of I2PO (2021), in connection with their initial public offerings and subsequently their initial business combinations (2017 for Mediawan and 2022 for I2PO and 2MX Organic). Career Prior to becoming partner at Racine in 2018, Maud worked as an associate at Latham & Watkins and as a jurist in corporate law in a business law firm in Tel Aviv. Education Maud graduated from Institut Supérieur d’Interprétariat et de Traduction (ISIT). She has an LL.M. in International Business Law from King’s College London and a graduate degree in Business Law from the international law programme of Université de Paris XI. Areas of expertise Mergers and acquisitions, debt/equity transactions, corporate structuring, shareholders’ agreements, capital markets and SPACs. Academic credentials, speaking engagements, etc In 2022, Maud was a member of the expert committees who were selected by ODDO BHF to elect the award winners for the Young Entrepreneurial Awards which they organised. In December 2022, the French Revue de droit bancaire et financier published a special edition on SPACs, where Maud was the co-author of two articles. Maud has also made other numerous contributions regarding SPACs to reviews and French media. E: mbakouche@racine.eu
Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 France Marie Pouget Partner Years of experience: 12 Damien Richard Partner Years of experience: 22 Marie Pouget’s practice area mainly focuses on private equity (particularly in connection with LBOs), mergers and acquisitions and distressed M&A transactions. She advises French and foreign investment funds and international groups on their equity investments and the monitoring of their investments. Career Prior to becoming partner at Racine, Marie worked as a partner for Ayache, associate and subsequent counsel for Shearman & Sterling LLP, and as an associate for Mayer Brown. Education Marie has a master’s degree in Business Law from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and a master’s degree in Tax Law from Paris II Panthéon-Assas. She holds a Master of Science in Management from the ESSEC Business School and is a member of the Paris bar. Academic credentials, speaking engagements, etc Marie is an active member of the “Talent & Diversity” and “Ecological Transition” commissions of France Invest. She was a speaker at the 2022 Women in Finance conference organised by ESSEC Transaction and has made numerous contributions to legal reviews and French media. Her recent accolades include: The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 ranking (Private Equity – LBO: Firm to watch), IFLR1000 (notable practitioner in the M&A and PE practice areas); Option Droit & Affaires (Band 2 in the 2023 edition “Advisor to the managers in LBO transactions” and “LBO transactions – EUR 50 to 300 million”; and Décideurs Juridiques 2023 Law Summit (gold trophy in the “lower mid & small cap LBO transactions” category) Damien Richard has been an attorney since 2001, and his practice has been primarily focused on public business law. Today, Damien Richard represents developers, construction firms, planners and local governments. Over the course of his years of practice, Damien Richard has developed three principal areas of concentration: • Structuring real estate projects involving urban planning and contractual aspects, He counts among his regular clients the BOUYGUES and EIFFAGE groups. • Management of public contracts, particularly in the building and public works sector. • The development of tourist and cultural economies, with a particular expertise in developing ski resorts. Career Prior to Racine, Damien was a lawyer at Delsol & Partners. Education Damien has a master’s degree in Public Law from Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 and a master’s degree in territorial local authorities from Aix Marseille III Université. He also holds a degree in Public administration (IEP Aix en Provence). Academic credentials, speaking engagements, etc Damien is listed in 2023 Best Lawyers Ranking. E: mpouget@racine.eu E: drichard@racine.eu
38 Wolfgang Hermann Lawyer, Hermann & Kollegen Rechtsanwälte DR.
39 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany About Wolfgang Wolfgang is a German qualified lawyer and has over 20 years work experience. He is specialized in real estate and public law. In addition to the support of real estate transactions he also assists clients in all related questions of administrative law, in particular in matters of regional planning, construction planning, building regulations and environmental law. He has an excellent network and is in a position to provide legal advice as well as to determine the appropriate contact persons at the relevant licensing authorities. He is regularly member of various juries of urban development competitions and member of various supervisory boards. His passion and accuracy is the x-factor to go the extra mile and help clients to achieve their goals. Hermann & Kollegen Rechtsanwälte Hermann & Kollegen Rechtsanwalte (Berlin/Munich) is a boutique law firm advising property owners, investors in real estate transactions. A further focus of their consulting activities is the legal support of property developers, architects and municipalities on project and location development of residential and commercial projects, in particular on obtaining, enforcing, securing and modifying building law. A team of excellent lawyers applies for focus for high specialization in these practice areas. Their clients appreciate a legal team with a deep understanding of the nuances of the life cycle of a real estate property, a target oriented approach and excellence at deal making. The team advises on all relevant questions of urban development measures, from the project idea to completion. This also includes the purchase of the properties, the implementation of architectural competitions and the subsequent marketing. Real Estate Transactions Adviser of the Year Areas of Expertise Real Estate transactions Project development Public building law Land law www.hk-law.de “Wolfgang’s passion and accuracy is the x-factor to go the extra mile and help clients to achieve their goals.”
EUROPE.
42 Jean-Baptiste Marchand AMALA Partners MML Acquires Freeland 44 Rodrigue Tchouale DE PARDIEU BROCAS MAFFEI A.A.R.P.I. Corporate M&A Lawyer of the Year 46 Andreas Brinkrolf Quantum Partners KKA Partners acquiresa majority stake in Cho-Time Group 48 Jochen Reis Rödl & Partner Transaction and Valuation Services Leader of the Year 54 Christoph Studinka Proventis Partners VR Equitypartner acquires Zimmer & Hälbig GmbH 56 David Gerber Bracher Rawlins LLP Rosetta Brandsreceives investment from Rockpool Investments
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43 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 France Jean-Baptiste Marchand Managing Partner AMALA Partners www.amala-partners.com About Jean Jean-Baptiste graduated from ESCP, specializing in M&A consulting for more than 20 years. He founded Amala Partners in 2020 with the conviction that the market would be receptive to an entrepreneurial project in investment banking centered on the fundamentals of the business, able to best support entrepreneurs and investors in all their transactions. AMALA Partners AMALA Partners is a fully independent investment banking and private capital advisory firm dedicated to entrepreneurs and investors in the Private Equity. We are driven by a single mission: enable shareholders and financial sponsors to attain their strategic growth, funding and liquidity goals. Incepted in October 2020, Amala Partners is a fast-growing firm, with a bold and independent mindset, aligned with the projects of entrerpeneurs and investors it supports. It now has about forty professionals. In 2022, Amala Partners acted on more than 30 transactions, double the number of the previous year. In total, the Managing Partners advised on more than 450 M&A transactions, financing operations and GP solutions. MML Acquires Freeland
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46 Andreas Brinkrolf Managing Partner Quantum Partners www.quantum-partners.de
47 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany About Andreas Andreas Brinkrolf has many years of corporate finance experience and has founded several successful companies. As a venture manager and later as managing director of the Siemens Technology Accelerator, he was responsible for the external marketing of Siemens technologies through sales, spinoffs and licensing. The focus was on high-tech projects, for example in the areas of sensors, new materials and software. As the founder and CEO of Tiburon Partners AG, he invested in Internet and software companies and accompanied some of the companies throughout their entire life cycle up to their exit. He was responsible for the later sale of Tiburon Partners AG to a listed holding company. Mr. Brinkrolf was a co-founder of Invoco Holding GmbH and accompanied it in its development into one of the leading providers of outsourcing services in Germany. In 2013 he was responsible for the sale of the company to Xerox Corporation. In recent years, Mr. Brinkrolf has accompanied over 50 transactions - initial investments, capital increases and sales. He studied business administration at the Universities of Bamberg and Aston (UK) and did his doctorate at the University of St. Gallen (CH). Quantum Partners Quantum Partners is an independent M&A advisory firm based in Munich, Germany. We support companies in all corporate finance matters, in particular in company sales, mergers and acquisitions, as well as in raising growth capital. Each project is managed by an experienced partner at all stages. Our clients are typically entrepreneurs, mid-sized companies, private equity and venture capital investors as well as family offices. The Quantum Partners team will help you optimize the value of your business: by selling to strategic partners or financial investors, by raising capital or by acquiring other companies. We help you identify and execute the best solution. If the shareholder structure or the financing of a company changes significantly, a lot of value can be created or destroyed in a short period of time. Our job is to ensure that value is created! If there are any open issues and need for action before the start of a transaction, we help you plan and implement the necessary preparatory steps. KKA Partners acquires a majority stake in Cho-Time Group
48 Jochen Reis Head of Transactions Rödl & Partner T: +49 6196 76114 775 M: +49 151 2285 9567 E: jochen.reis@roedl.com W: www.roedl.de/tvs
49 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2023 Germany About Jochen After spending 10 years at PwC in Transaction Services, Jochen joined Rödl & Partner in 2014 becoming a Partner and Shareholder. Since his start, he has been Head of Transaction Services at the Frankfurt / Eschborn office, where he established the Transaction & Valuation Services (TVS) team and continues to drive it forward. His proven expertise lies particulary in the support of cross-border transactions of private equity houses as well as strategic investors and international groups. With over 600 accompanied transactions in various industries such as healthcare, IT/software, services, industrials and energy in national and international projects, Jochen has an excellent track record in buy and sell side assignments. Rödl & Partner Rödl & Partner is an international, ownermanaged firm and an integrated professional services firm offering legal, tax, audit and business management consulting services. Combining an interdisciplinary approach and a global reach and collaboration with their immediate colleagues, Rödl & Partner is the agile caring partner for Mittelstand shaped world market leaders. They believe that clients’ needs and projects cannot be separated into individual professional disciplines. As a result, Rödl & Partner stands for international expertise from a single source, for collaboration with immediate colleagues in 107 of its own offices in 50 countries instead of networks or franchise systems. TVS Team Frankfurt / Eschborn The team led by Jochen Reis supports buyers and sellers in all due diligence analyses with a focus on the collection of transaction-relevant information for the company valuation, for purchase agreement price negotiations, financing considerations and, if applicable, also for a purchase price allocation as well as a possible integration. The Transaction team has been advising private equity houses, companies of the German Mittelstand and international groups. The Valuation Team evaluates companies or parts of companies according to recognized national and international standards, including company acquisitions, succession planning, annual financial statements, tax issues or disputes. Areas of expertise • Comprehensive and tailored transaction advisory and business valuation services • Interdisciplinary national and international buy- and sell-side projects based on a one-stop-shop • Focus Transactions: financial due diligence, vendor due diligence, factbook, vendor support, SPA support • Focus Valuation: business valuations, intangibles & PPA valuation, fairness opinions, balance sheet valuation & impairment tests, tax valuation, M&A valuation, financial modeling Transaction and Valuation Services Leader of the Year
FinTech companies are moving into the automotive space, and for good reason: the financing of auto purchases fails to meet the consumer’s expectations. What’s more, these tech companies realise that by innovating the finance process, they can build life-long relationships with consumers. Auto brands with financing arms should take note. Eddie Chin Vice President, Products & Solutions Lead for Financial Services & Insurance at Rightpoint The Next Big Innovation in Auto Manufacturing? FINANCE Financial Innovation & FinTech 50 Finance Monthly.
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