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3 www.finance-monthly.com Welcome to the 2023 Finance Monthly M&A Awards In this latest edition of the Finance Monthly M&A Awards, we celebrate the extraordinary talents and achievements of professionals who have excelled in the mergers and acquisitions sector. Among our distinguished honorees, we have Werner Leiter from Grant Thornton Austria, acclaimed as the Due Diligence Adviser of the Year for his meticulous risk mitigation efforts; Luis Gerardo Ramirez Villela, recognized as the M&A Adviser of the Year, Mexico, for his strategic insights and valuable guidance; Technology Holdings, which stands out as the Investment Banking Firm of the Year in the UK for its role in facilitating significant technology sector deals; and Bruno Grangier of Leaf Legal, who has earned the title of Cross Border Transactions Firm of the Year, China through his adept handling of complex international deals. Each of these individuals and firms exemplifies unparalleled expertise, dedication, and influence in the M&A landscape, marking their contributions as instrumental to the field’s ongoing innovation and success. Their collective achievements not only underscore the dynamic nature of mergers and acquisitions but also spotlight the exceptional caliber of professionals driving the industry forward.
Introducing the Winners... Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Europe Austria Werner Leiter Grant Thornton Austria Due Diligence Adviser of the Year 14 Wolfgang Scehnk demps & partner Restructuring Experts of the Year Christoph Rauch Paragon GmbH Sell Side M&A Consultancy Firm of the Year Belgium Alexandre Streel BDO Belgium Business Valuations Team of the Year 28 Stephane Delodder Bridgefield Corporate Finance International M&A Adviser of the Year Henk Vivile Kumulus Partners Transaction Advisory M&A Adviser of the Year Denmark Troels Fellov Larsen Translution Capital Capital Markets Adviser of the Year France Jean-René Griton Aurignac Finance Investment Banking Adviser of the Year Paul Bougnoux Largillière Finance Transaction Advisory M&A Adviser of the Year Jean-Paul Faucounau Cabinet Touton Faucounau et Associés Accounting and Auditing Adviser of the Year Thierry Chetrit Clairfield France Sell-Side Advisory Firm of the Year 30 Germany Christian Faber Bette Westenberger Brink Banking and Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year Volkmar Hellmich Deutsche Cleantech GmbH CleanTech M&A Adviser of the Year Christian A. Krebs Jones Day Cross Border M&A Adviser of the Year 32 Thomas Ludwig Ludwig Investment Banking Firm of the Year Michael Kohlhase Dr. Kohlhase GmbH Investment Funds Adviser of the Year 5 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Dr. Kohlhase GmbH Dr. Kohlhase GmbH Investment Funds Firm of the Year FERBER & CO. GmbH FERBER & CO. GmbH Mid-Market Corporate Finance 33 Advisory Firm of the Year Wolfgang Schweissgut SCHWEISSGUT GmbH Succession Planning Adviser of the Year Hungary Levente Almási RSM Hungary M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Ireland Tom Early Enterprise Ireland Investments Advisory Firm of the Year Italy Ludovico Mantovani Pirola Corporate Finance Corporate Transactions Adviser of the Year Alberto Gennarini Vitale & Co. S.p.A Retail and Consumer M&A Adviser of the Year 36 Netherlands Eric Tierie Xegasus Aviation Investments Aviation M&A Adviser of the Year Derk Jan Helleman Florin Finance M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Marc Broekema BFI Valuation and Appraisal Adviser of the Year Poland Marcin Macieszczak Gessel M&A Law Adviser of the Year Spain Bosco Salaverri SOCIOS Corporate Finance Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year Switzerland Alex Gut Gut Corporate Finance, AG Corporate Acquisitions and Disposals Advisory Firm of the Year 6 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Nelson Pena IMCI+ Group Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year REYL Intesa Sanpaolo REYL Intesa Sanpaolo Corporate Finance Team of the Year 16 Matthieu Chamorel DYN | FIDUCIAIRE Financial Services Company of the Year Andrés Zweig Ramus & Company, AG M&A Advisory Firm of the Year United Kingdom Wyatts Wyatts Accountancy Firm of the Year Jonathan Waters My In House Lawyer Alternative Dispute Resolution Adviser of the Year Jason Stather-Lodge OCM Wealth Management Ltd Aviation M&A Adviser of the Year Faisal Sheikh University of Salford Manchester Business and Management Consulting Adviser of the Year Abrar Kayani AAK & Co. Business Advisory and Consulting Firm of the Year 7 www.finance-monthly.com Leiter Werner 14 Due Diligence Adviser of the Year Austria Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Mel Storer BKPS Chartered Management Accountants Firm of the Year FinancialAdvice.net FinancialAdvice.net Corporate and Partnership Planning Firm of the Year David Fawcus FAWCUS CORPORATE Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year Alex Sansom Unbound Real Estate Dealmaker of the Year Jason Evans Gambit Corporate Finance Debt Adviser of the Year Santhosh Metri Moody’s Analytics Due Diligence Solutions Adviser of the Year Mark Lynch Oghma Partners Food, Beverages and Packaging M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Craig Headford Freight Mergers, Ltd. Freight Forwarding and Logistics M&A Consultancy of the Year Rachel Bryant Trinity IP Solutions Insolvency Adviser of the Year Technology Holdings Technology Holdings Investment Banking Firm of the Year 18 Goldenhill International Goldenhill International M&A Advisors M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Seonaid Mackenzie Sturgeon Ventures, LLP Start-up Adviser of the Year John Farrugia finnCap Group Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year Americas Argentina Roberto Crouzel Beccar Varela Mergers & Acquisitions Adviser of the Year 41 Brazil Felipe Manara Stoic Capital Corporate Finance M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Marianne Albers FELSBERG Advogados M&A Lawyer of the Year Italo Ferrara Lince Partners Valuations Adviser of the Year Carlos Barbosa Mello Lefosse Advogados Capital Markets Adviser of the Year 42 8 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Beatriz Degani Quatá Confidence Capital Financial Advisory Firm of the Year William Heuseler Itaú Unibanco Wealth Planning Adviser of the Year Canada Mike McIsaac Baker Tilly Canada Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year 44 Ed Bryant Sampford Advisors Mid Market Tech M&A 47 Advisory Firm of the Year Diane Horton Tequity Advisors Sell-Side M&A Adviser of the Year FirePower Capital FirePower Capital Venture Capital Firm of the Year Valeria Flores Scotia Wealth Management Wealth Management Adviser of the Year Mexico Luis G. Ramirez V. Luis Gerardo Ramirez Villela M&A Adviser of the Year 20 Alejandra Paredones BSI Capital Group Financial Advisory Firm of the Year Trinidad and Tobago Timothy Hamel-Smith Hamel-Smith & Co. M&A Law Firm of the Year USA Sean Beach Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP Bankruptcy and Restructuring Adviser of the Year Lauren Antion Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC Beauty, Personal Care and Wellness 48 M&A Adviser of the Year High Rock Partners, Inc. High Rock Partners, Inc. Boutique M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Boxwood Partners, LLC Boxwood Partners, LLC Deal of the Year - Neighborly acquires Junk King CSG Partners CSG Partners Employee Stock Ownership Plans Firm of the Year Sal Piacente UniverSal Game Protection Development M&A Consulting Firm of the Year Manuel Candal Candal Advisors, Inc. Trust planning Adviser of the Year Jeff Pickett Connor Group IPO Adviser of the Year 9 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Asia China Steve Yu Osborne Clarke China Business Lawyer of the Year Bruno Grangier Leaf Legal Cross Border Transactions Firm of the Year 22 Feier Cheng Corporate Finance International (CFI) M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Hong Kong Timothy Loh Timothy Loh, LLP Corporate Transactions Adviser of the Year 52 India Kamal Rungta RCS Advisors M&A Advisory Firm of the Year Japan Sujan Sanku 99 InfoSystems Inc. M&A Consultant of the Year Malaysia Dato Wan Asmadi DWA Advisory Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year Wan Ahmad Nicholas Chew Moore Malaysia Oil & Gas M&A Adviser of the Year 53 Qatar Pawel Banach ValuStrat Business Valuations Adviser of the Year Venkatesh Krishnaswamy KPMG Deal Advisory Firm of the Year 54 Saudi Arabia Ahmed S. Hamzah Ghouth Alkhabeer Capital Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year 10 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Singapore Desmond Teo EY Singapore Tax Advisory Firm of the Year United Arab Emirates David Foster Allen & Overy, LLP Corporate and M&A Law Firm of the Year 57 Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance Islamic Finance Qualification of the Year Africa Nigeria Dan Agbor Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie Banking and Finance Law Adviser of the Year Stephen Osho Comercio Partners, Ltd. M&A Advisory Firm of the Year 60 South Africa Mametja Moshe Moshe Capital Investment Adviser of the Year Emrie Brown RMB Investment Banking Adviser of the Year 62 Australasia Australia Michael Parker Queenscorp Insurance Services Insurance Brokerage Adviser of the Year Queenscorp Insurance Services Queenscorp Insurance Services Insurance Brokerage Advisory Firm of the Year Ben Crossing Euroz Hartleys, Ltd. Equity Capital Markets Adviser of the Year 66 11 www.finance-monthly.com Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Index
Featured Winners 14 Werner Leiter Grant Thornton Austria 16 REYL Intesa Sanpaolo 18 Technology Holdings with Vivek Subramanyam and Geeta Ramanathan 20 Luis Gerardo Ramirez Villela M&A Adviser 22 Leaf Legal with Bruno Grangier
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Austria Due Diligence Adviser of the Year Werner Leiter Grant Thornton Austria’s versatility in adeptly managing a spectrum of tax and non-tax matters establishes the company as an exceptional and prominent player in its industry. “ 14 www.finance-monthly.com About Grant Thornton Austria Grant Thornton Austria is a leading audit, tax, accounting, and advisory firm, also operating in the fields of forensics, cyber security, and digital advisory. With nearly 300 employees who work at three locations across the country, the company supports its clients in achieving their goals. For his exceptional work at Grant Thornton Austria, Werner Leiter, Partner, has been named Due Diligence Adviser of the Year 2023 for Austria. After 34 years in the company, Werner Leiter handed over responsibilities to Raphael Holzinger in April 2023: “Raphael Holzinger will ensure strong, sustainable growth and strategic management of the Tax division personally and professionally.” Within the tax area, Grant Thornton Austria stands as a leading provider of comprehensive Transaction and Structuring Advice with a specialized focus on Business Tax, International Tax, and Transfer Pricing. Renowned for delivering strategic guidance that transcends traditional tax considerations, the company employs a holistic approach to optimize financial outcomes for its clients. While primarily focused on Austria, the firm actively expands its services to neighbouring countries, advocating a regional strategy for intricate tax challenges. This extensive coverage establishes the firm as a flexible and adaptable ally navigating varied legal frameworks for clients operating across borders. Grant Thornton Austria’s tax team showcases an impressive track record, successfully completing over 40 Tax Due Diligences (TDD) in the past 12 months. This achievement underscores their ability to translate insights into effective tax strategies, emphasizing expertise in tax structuring and restructuring across jurisdictions. Contact Raphael Holzinger Grant Thornton Austria Tel: +43 1 505 4313 Email: office1100@at.gt.com www.grantthornton.at
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Austria With nearly 300 employees who work at three locations across the country, the company supports its clients in achieving their goals. “ 15 www.finance-monthly.com Distinguished by a deeply integrated service portfolio, Grant Thornton Austria covers tax aspects like business tax, international tax, transfer pricing, and withholding tax. The company’s proficiency extends into non-tax domains such as corporate finance, valuation, and business restructuring, ensuring clients receive comprehensive guidance for both tax intricacies and broader business challenges. Grant Thornton Austria’s versatility establishes it as an exceptional player in the industry. Raphael Holzinger Head of Tax at Grant Thornton Austria Werner Leiter Partner at Grant Thornton Austria
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Switzerland Corporate Finance Team of the Year REYL Intesa Sanpaolo REYL Intesa Sanpaolo is one of few boutique private banks in Switzerland offering a complete range of services comparable to its largest peers, while remaining committed to providing the highest level of service and dedicated personalised attention to each client.” “ 16 www.finance-monthly.com About REYL Intesa Sanpaolo Founded by Dominique Reyl in 1973 and led by François Reyl since 2008, REYL Intesa Sanpaolo is a diversified and entrepreneurial banking group providing a range of financial services and investment solutions to private and institutional clients. The Bank serves a clientele of international entrepreneurs, family offices and institutional investors through five business lines: Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Finance, Asset Services and Asset Management, enabling the efficient provision of solutions to address the increasingly complex needs of its clients. REYL Intesa Sanpaolo is one of few boutique private banks in Switzerland offering a complete range of services comparable to its largest peers, while remaining committed to providing the highest level of service and dedicated personalised attention to each client. 2022 marked the beginning of a new era for the bank as it entered into a partnership with Fideuram-Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking (“Fideuram – ISPB”), a leading European banking group. This strategic agreement provides the Group with a number of cross-selling opportunities, giving it the scale of a major banking entity, whilst remaining true to its roots as an entrepreneurial boutique. It has strengthened the Group’s geographical presence in Europe – Lugano and London – and in Argentina. This adds to REYL Intesa Sanpaolo’s already established, highly regulated presence in Geneva, Zurich, Lugano, London, Luxembourg, Singapore, Malta and Dubai, which allows the Group to stay close to its increasingly mobile entrepreneurial client base. At REYL Intesa Sanpaolo it is our role to provide strategic and valuation advice to our clients, mid to large businesses in sectors including renewables, Tech, Media and Telecoms, consumer goods, real estate and hospitality. Our range of corporate finance services, which include mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt advisory, capital markets, restructurings and private equity, means we have been involved in a number of deals over recent Contact Xavier Ledru Head of Corporate Finance Email: xledru@reyl.com www.reyl.com
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Switzerland When it comes to using art as an investment vehicle, we have found that there is a particular interest in fixed income products with works of art as their underlying assets.” “ 17 www.finance-monthly.com months, advising leading private equity funds in Europe on transactions ranging from EUR 100m to EUR 4.9bn, as well as advising large corporates. The Corporate Finance team also offers a service in artlending and believes it to be interesting for several reasons. A securitisation platform for asset-backed securities gives clients the opportunity to invest in bonds backed directly by works of art. These investments enable coupons to be paid quarterly or semiannually with an annual return in the high single to low double digits region. The coupon constitutes a premium due to the low or non-existent liquidity offered by alternative investments. This allows a diversified product with low risk to be offered outside the traditional market. The platform also offers clients the opportunity to take out loans and get more out of their art collection. When it comes to using art as an investment vehicle, we have found that there is a particular interest in fixed income products with works of art as their underlying assets. At the same time, the market for art-backed loans in Europe is still in its infancy. This is what inspired us to launch Griffin Art Partners in partnership with Luxembourg’s Link Management, one of the leading art consulting firms in Europe. This collaboration means we can anticipate specific trends in the art market and deliver art-backed loans, meeting the high demand for art-related, well secured investments from clients in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 United Kingdom 18 www.finance-monthly.com About Technology Holdings Technology Holdings is a global investment bank dedicated to delivering M&A and capital raising advisory services exclusively to technology services, software, consulting, healthcare, and business process management companies with enterprise values ranging from $20 million to $250 million USD. Founded in 2000, with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, we have the decisive local presence and cross-cultural knowledge required to execute premium transactions and deliver excellence at every step of our service delivery process. Our global team of 70+ professionals have decades of collective expertise and a solid investment banking track record across a number of bulge bracket and boutique investment banks - with accumulated enterprise values exceeding $100 billion they deliver a hands on, no stone unturned, strategic and focused approach. Once appointed we act as an extension of our client’s team, working closely in all aspects of the transaction including transaction strategy, positioning, preparation of material, due diligence and transaction closure. Our philosophy is that we are only successful if our clients are and that drives everything we do, we strive to achieve only the very best results for our clients. Vivek Subramanyam Founder and CEO Contact: vivek@technologyholdings.com www.technologyholdings.com Investment Banking Firm of the Year Technology Holdings
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 United Kingdom 19 www.finance-monthly.com Geeta Ramanathan Managing Director and COO Contact: geeta@technologyholdings.com www.technologyholdings.com Our Focus Sectors For more than 23 years we have offered our clients comprehensive, high-quality advisory services including M&A sell-side, buy-side, private equity and capital advisory services – closing over 100 successful transactions (all of which were cross-border or with multinational companies) and we have received global recognition as the investment bank of choice in our 12 focus sectors: • Digital Transformation • IT Services • Cloud & DevOps • Consultancies • Analytics, Data Science & AI • Healthcare & Life Sciences • Engineering Services & IoT • Technology Platforms & SaaS • Fintech & Insurtech • Business Process Management • ERP, CRM & ITSM • Cybersecurity When it comes to providing independent M&A and capital raising across our 12 focus sectors, our depth of capabilities, domain expertise and track record of success is unmatched. When it comes to providing independent M&A and capital raising across our 12 focus sectors, our depth of capabilities, domain expertise and track record of success is unmatched.” “
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Mexico In the intricate world of legal practice, few have navigated the labyrinth of Corporate law, Banking & Finance, and Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as adeptly as Luis G. Ramírez V. With a career spanning over two decades, he has witnessed seismic shifts in the landscape and adapted to each one, emerging as a trusted advisor for businesses across various sectors. In this candid conversation with Finance Monthly, Mr. Ramírez sheds light on the evolution of these domains, the challenges they present today, and how the pandemic has changed the M&A landscape. M&A Adviser of the Year Luis Gerardo Ramirez Villela 20 www.finance-monthly.com Luis, how have Corporate law, Banking & Finance, and M&A landscapes evolved over the years in the regions you predominantly operate in? In general, legal practice has evolved over the years and regions considerably. Now, with the integration of ESG principles and the evolution in the operation of companies due to the pandemic and recession, everything has changed. From the banking and finance perspective, today, it is more complicated to obtain and negotiate financing terms and conditions, while in the M&A market, the impact has been in the reduction of transactions. Can you share a notable case or transaction in which you played a significant role and the key challenges you encountered? Recently, I had an M&A transaction where we encountered several issues not only related to the consequences of the pandemic but also due to recent changes in applicable laws, which made me create a different structure for potentially closing the transaction. Since we were acquiring, the key challenges were related not only to the M&A closing with respect to determining the risks derived from the pandemic and changes in the law but also to obtaining the financing for such purposes, which, in this year, is more complicated than before the pandemic. With global economic shifts and the emergence of new financial technologies, how have client needs and challenges transformed in Banking & Finance? Clients’ needs, at least in the regions I work with, have not changed that much; however, everyone is challenged by these new technologies, and therefore, structuring loans
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Mexico 21 www.finance-monthly.com from the borrower or lender perspective is evolving, and that implicates involving not only on the legal perspective but also on the financial and business perspective to understand client needs and have a successful transaction. Are particular sectors or industries currently driving the bulk of M&A activities, and if so, what trends are you observing? Considering that this year, the M&A transactions slowed down, based on the work I have done this year, I definitely would have to say that it all depends on the clients. There are no specific trends from one sector, but that will change for sure in 2024. Regarding Corporate law, how have changing global regulations and the push for more transparency affected how businesses operate and seek counsel? Evolution, in general, is making clients implement ESG strategies and, therefore, have a more defined corporate governance strategy, which I am handling right now with several foreign and domestic clients. The need to create an efficient ESG program for all business purposes is doing that clients search for counsel with experience and a general legal background. From my perspective, in the next two years, corporate work will increase since most of the companies will push for creating a better business strategy not only in compliance with applicable laws but also for purposes of achieving their goals, being competitive in their specific market and standing out for customers and stakeholders. You’ve amassed over two decades of experience across various legal specialisms. How does your multifaceted expertise give you an advantage in the industry? Now, it is an excellent advantage to have had a general practice, although I have focuses in some specific areas. As of today, clients prefer having a partner in charge of everything and with general knowledge of legal specialisms, rather than having several partners involved in one single transaction, which might be cost and time effective. Within Capital Markets, how have you seen the landscape evolve in Mexico, especially concerning global trends? Unfortunately, capital markets transactions in Mexico have reduced since the pandemic, and except for REITs there is little interest nowadays for companies to be listed in the stock markets or carrying out public or private offerings. When representing companies in the buying and selling process of shares and assets, both domestically and internationally, what are the common challenges or misconceptions companies might have? I would have to say that the most challenging part is now the structuring of the indemnification procedures. In Mexico, laws have been changing, and asset transactions may trigger other consequences to be analyzed in detail. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a diligent process to give a good assessment to clients and determine the best structure for completing the transaction. Besides that part, the negotiation of the indemnification process continues to be challenging as well for both domestic and international transactions. Finally, with such a notable career, what advice would you give to budding legal professionals aspiring to make their mark in M&A? I would say that preparing and continuing to study is a basic requirement for reaching goals not only in M&A but in any area in which they would like to be focused. Legal education must always continue, and with the recent implementation of artificial intelligence, it is necessary to keep updated and focus not only on work but also on networking and taking risks in implementing and creating new work structures. I would have to say that the most challenging part is now the structuring of the indemnification procedures. “
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 China Cross Border Transactions Firm of the Year Leaf Legal 22 www.finance-monthly.com About Bruno Grangier Bruno Grangier is a corporate lawyer based in China since 2004. He created the corporate law firm Leaf in 2012 to assist foreign companies to successfully penetrate the Chinese market and complete their projects, and to be a bridge between Europe and Asia. Bruno Grangier is registered at the Paris Bar as well as in China as a foreign-registered lawyer. He studied in France and graduated from Hong Kong City University with an LLM degree in Chinese Law. He has worked for major international law firms in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Paris. After working as a lawyer in a Paris-based law firm dedicated to private equity-related transactions, he moved to China in 2004 where he first specialized in M&A. He mainly worked with large corporations and multinationals (automotive, chemical industry, retail, luxury brands...) helping them to develop their operations in China and Asia through greenfield investments or M&A transactions. Bruno Grangier and the Leaf Team have developed a varied portfolio of clients, ranging from multinationals to ambitious start-ups thanks to his great expertise in the complex legal environment of China. In this context, Bruno Grangier uses his experience and knowledge to maximize client’s negotiations. Bruno Grangier has been recently added to the panel of CIETAC Arbitrator. In 2022 and 2023, Bruno Grangier has been listed as China’s Elite 100 Lawyers by China Business Law Journal. Contact Bruno Grangier Founder & Managing Partner Email: b.grangier@leaf-legal.com www.leaf-legal.com
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 China 23 www.finance-monthly.com About Leaf Leaf was founded in 2012. Leaf team is composed of talented Chinese and European lawyers and specializes in transactions in China. Leaf maintains a “boutique” spirit while applying a creative approach to China problem solving. Leaf has been recognized one of the leading foreign firm in China thanks to its high achievements in M&A transactions. A legal reference I Our firm has received multiple awards for its cross-border activities. We are one of the best teams of M&A and corporate lawyers based in China. Our team is composed of talented Chinese and internationally qualified attorneys. Our firm is one of the few which has been approved by the Ministry of Justice in China. Leaf’s experience allows its team to fully understand the legal implications of doing business in China. It is in a position to help evaluate risk level and propose pragmatic solutions. Bi-cultural with international standards I Each lawyer at Leaf is familiar with M&A cross-border transactions. We established a bi-cultural team to provide our clients with several angles to view each problem. This bi-cultural approach is a unique experience that will allow our team to efficiently help complex cross-border negotiations with several foreign elements. We are used to providing efficient solutions to manage complex transactions in a changing legal and business environment. In addition, we help partners to reach common understanding and vision. Ecosystem of High-value services I We are providing solutions that are tailor-made and generated from our experience in project management. Our experience and expertise allow us to help our clients to understand the legal implications of doing business in China. As we have observed that a financial expertise is often required in our transactions, we have created a Corporate Finance department which can help our clients not only in their deal preparation but also in their business management. Overall, our unique advantage is based on the quality and efficiency of the ecosystem and high-value services we offer. We have trusted advisors recognized in their field of expertise such as cybersecurity issues, complex negotiations and angel financing. This year, our lawyers have assisted acquisitions and exits across a wide range of industry sectors between companies based entirely in China as well as those with presences in both the European and Chinese markets. Our clients in Europe have benefited from our presence in China as we played a key role in representing them. The structuring, legal due diligence and negotiations were smoothly conducted with our bi-cultural legal team as well as our corporate finance team members as we bridged the gaps when needed. For more info, please check our website (www.leaf-legal.com) We are one of the best teams of M&A and corporate lawyers based in China. Our team is composed of talented Chinese and internationally qualified attorneys.” “
Europe 28 Alexandre Streel BDO Belgium 30 Clairfield France with Thierry Chetrit 32 Christian A. Krebs Jones Day 35 FERBER & CO. GmbH with Manfred C. Ferber and Alexander von Hachenburg 36 Alberto Gennarini Vitale
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Belgium Business Valuations Team of the Year Alexandre Streel We work intensively with you to develop a strategy that strengthens your financial position and takes your business to new heights. Our focus is on delivering results and value creation for your business. “ 28 www.finance-monthly.com About Alexandre Streel Alexandre is a CPA in Belgium. He holds a master degree in Commercial engineering and a postgraduate degree in Economics. He joined BDO in 2002. His hybrid professional experience consists, on one hand, of financial audit in industrial and trading companies, and on the other hand, of valuation assignments. The services provided in this latter context include equity valuation and intangibles valuation (namely in the context of purchase price allocation exercises). Alexandre developed the valuation practice for BDO Belgium and lectures valuation courses as well as occasional short-term classes at Liege University. Furthermore he writes articles for the economic press on a regular basis. About BDO Belgium BDO Belgium is an internationally active consultancy company with a solid reputation in financial services (Audit & Assurance, Tax & Legal, Accounting & Reporting) and complementary, specialised advice to support clients towards futureproof and sustainable growth (Advisory). It does so by, among other things, guiding them in strategy exercises, digital transformations, process optimisations, change- and sustainability tracks, sustainable finance, financial advisory, mergers & acquisitions and risk management. The consultancy company advises and assists a wide range of clients, from large international companies and (family) SMEs to private individuals. The BDO approach is personal, hands-on, pragmatic, geared towards results and tailored to the client’s needs. Organisations always have a single direct point of contact and a BDO office in direct proximity. Contact Alexandre Streel Partner, BDO Belgium Email: alexandre.streel@bdo.be Tel: +32 (0)87 69 30 00 www.bdo.be
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Belgium 29 www.finance-monthly.com BDO currently has over 950 partners and employees spread throughout Belgium. In Belgium, BDO has 12 branch offices (Antwerp, Antwerp-North, Brussels Airport, Brussels-Centre, Ghent, Hasselt Prins-Bisschops, Hasselt Herkenrode, La Hulpe, Liège, Mouscron, Namur-Charleroi and Roeselare) and is part of a strong international network with a team of experts of over 110.000 partners and employees, active in 164 countries. Tailored service Carving out, selling, acquiring or merging a company or a business activity is not something you do every day. Therefore, for strategic topics - such as a business valuation, merger or acquisition, restructuring and setting up the optimal finance structure - we bring to you the relevant expertise and guidance by working seamlessly together with you. At BDO Belgium, we take a personal approach. We listen to your needs and goals. We work intensively with you to develop a strategy that strengthens your financial position and takes your business to new heights. Our focus is on delivering results and value creation for your business. The value of valuation Value is a relative concept - until the moment that you need to prove the value of your company on paper. You may need to do so because you want to convince a new investor, for example, or to reinforce the shareholders’ confidence during the annual general meeting. Maybe you want to acquire a company or transfer your company to your heirs, etc. Or you might want to calculate how much your company could increase its value. Because that’s the objective at the end of the day, isn’t it? So, there are more than enough reasons to know the intrinisc value of your company calculated or to implement value-based management. Anyone who knows his or her company’s market value will not let himself or herself be trapped - and knows when there is room for improvement... and how! We’ve already managed to assist hundreds of companies in recent years, companies of incredibly diverse sectoral backgrounds, both large and small. It’s in basing ourselves on generally accepted methods and by using (inter)national databases, that we can accomplish this.
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 France Sell-Side Advisory Firm of the Year Clairfield France The long experience of our partners in diverse industries in combination with our well-connected industry experts enable our clients to open up new possibilities. “ 30 www.finance-monthly.com About Thierry Chetrit Thierry is one of the co-founders and current vice chairman of Clairfield International while managing the development of the firm in France as CEO. He has advised dozens of sellside and buy-side transactions, with particular expertise in crossborder deals involving both strategic buyers and private equity funds in numerous industries including business services, technologies, food and retail, healthcare and manufacturing . As an entrepreneur over the last 25 years, Thierry has been involved in managing companies that he founded or bought out (digital, marketing, education, energy, …) to take them to the next level. Thierry founded French boutique intuitucapital, the precursor to Clairfield France, in 1998, focusing on mergers & acquisitions, private placement, and investment activities in tech companies. He was formerly managing director at BBDO / Omnicom Group (NYSE), where he executed acquisitions while holding financial and operational responsibilities. He served as a member of the supervisory board of the famous French food company Madrange (EUR 300 million in sales) from 2009 to 2011 before selling it to the group Turenne Lafayette. He is a director at Schneider Consumer Group (EUR 200 million in sales). Thierry began his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Thierry is a strong supporter of social impact investment and generally ESG initiatives, both at personal and professional level. About Clairfield France Established in 1998, and co-founder of Clairfield International in 2004, Clairfield in France is a reference in French investment banking for the midmarket, addressing a wide spectrum of entrepreneur and family-led business businesses as well as private equity and French multinationals. Ranked among the top midmarket M&A advisory firms in France – and one of the top three independent firms – and advising Contact Thierry Chetrit Clairfield France Tel: +33 (0)1 40 20 12 34 www.clairfield.com
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 France Commitment to excellence and creating value for our clients, our staff, and our community is what Clairfield is all about. “ 31 www.finance-monthly.com over 25 transactions per year with a team of more than 20 professionals, we offer our M&A expertise to entrepreneurs, family companies, and private equity investors seeking a strategic sale or liquidity. We are able to structure transactions with potential acquirors and financial investors all over the world. We are also proud to show a strong track record in accompanying the development of French companies internationally, from public and listed companies to family groups, or private equity backed through acquisitions abroad, in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. We offer fundraising capabilities addressing both French and international private equity investors, family offices, or private investors. Our critical size and our accumulated experience of more than 350 transactions over 25 years allow us to provide our clients with industry expertise in a large number of sectors such as tech, healthcare, business services, manufacturing, consumer and distribution, energy and food, in which we completed many deals in various sector segments and niches. We have a longstanding committment to impact investing, mentoring social impact companies, and advising our clients in ESG practices.
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Germany Cross Border M&A Adviser of the Year Christian A. Krebs 32 www.finance-monthly.com
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Germany German and international clients work with Jones Day’s Frankfurt Office to capitalize on business opportunities around the world. Our lawyers collaborate seamlessly with their colleagues in Düsseldorf and Munich, as well as with our other European offices. “ 33 www.finance-monthly.com About Christian Krebs Christian Krebs has more than 15 years of experience advising international corporations and financial sponsors on cross-border M&A transactions, corporate law, and corporate governance. He is recognized as one of the most renowned corporate and M&A lawyers in Germany by WirtschaftsWoche, Handelsblatt, and Best Lawyers and recommended for large M&A transactions by The Legal 500. Chris provides counseling on all aspects of sales of private and public corporations, including private equity transactions (publicto-privates, LBOs, MBOs), on both the buy- and sell-side, as well as on early to late-stage financing rounds in venture capital contexts. He also provides boardroom advice regarding the latest trends in shareholder activism and corporate governance. Clients in recent representations, in which Chris acted as lead or co-lead lawyer, include Avient, Aurora Resurgence, Bessemer Venture Partners, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, Deutsche Börse, EDF, Infiana, Procter & Gamble, PTT Global Chemical, Verizon, and XIO. Chris gained in-house legal experience in the energy industry during an extended client secondment and worked at international law firms in New York, Brussels, and Buenos Aires. As a result of his international experience, he is especially apt at and has specific experience in advising foreign investors. Chris has published extensively on matters of corporate law and speaks publicly on M&A topics. He is a coauthor of leading treatises on the law of corporations and reorganizations. As a board member of the German American Lawyers Association (DAJV), he organizes its annual symposium on contemporaneous transatlantic legal issues. He is also a member of the Association for Corporate Law (VGR). About Jones Day Established more than 125 years ago in Cleveland, Ohio, Jones Day’s story initially mirrored the early progress and growth in industrial sectors across the United States. As the economy rapidly grew, the Firm advised on high-profile matters in manufacturing, banking, transportation, and mass communications that were often landmark in nature, but always placed the client’s interests first. Opportunities to diversify and expand both across the U.S. and internationally led to a period of sustained growth which crossed into the twenty-first century, ultimately resulting in more than 2,400 lawyers strategically placed in more than 40 offices in business and financial centers on five continents. A true global law firm that continually strives to exceed our own high standards, Jones Day is consistently endorsed by clients, acknowledged by peers, and commended by professional organizations and industry publications. Contact Christian A. Krebs Jones Day Tel: +49 69 9726 3939 Email: ckrebs@jonesday.com www.jonesday.com/en
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Germany 35 www.finance-monthly.com About FERBER & CO. FERBER & CO. – founded in 1988 – is a leading German independent advisory firm focusing on Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Corporate Finance in the mid-market with enterprise values ranging from € 25 million to € 500 million. Being an independent and privately-owned firm, FERBER & CO. is managed by its partners. In contrast to many of our competitors, we are not part of a larger financial institution that serves many competing interests. We serve a wide range of corporates, families, financial institutions and private equity houses from all over the world looking for un-conflicted, impartial advice with a global perspective. For more than 30 years we offer our clients comprehensive, high quality advisory services including M&A sell-side and buyside advisory as well as corporate finance advice regarding the structuring of debt and equity offerings. Our clients benefit from the extensive experience gained in a broad scope of over 300 successful transactions with accumulated enterprise values of over € 15 bn. Since most transactions have a cross-border dimension, FERBER & CO. is positioned as a truly international player and has built a strong global network with focus on Asia and the Americas. FERBER & CO. is uniquely positioned through the combination of in-depth sector expertise, personal access to decision makers and strong track record in three major verticals: Healthcare: Pharma, Acute & Non-Acute, Care, Pharmacies & Wholesale, Medical Devices Consumer Goods and Retail: Offline Retail and E-Commerce, Luxury Goods, Confectionary & Sweets Industrials and Capital Goods: Machinery, Industrial Engineering and Smart Services, Electrical Technology and Automation, Mobility Concepts, Construction and Building Materials, Packaging, Chemicals Contact FERBER & CO. GmbH Montgelasstrasse 14, 81679 Munich, Germany Phone: +49-89-419516-0 Fax: +49-89-419516-21 info@ferberco.com www.ferberco.com Mid-Market Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year Manfred C. Ferber, Partner Alexander von Hachenburg, Partner
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Italy Retail & Consumer M&A Adviser of the Year Alberto Gennarini 36 www.finance-monthly.com About Alberto Gennarini Alberto is a founding partner of Vitale with more than 30 years’ experience in the investment banking industry. He has a unique M&A track-record in Italy (more than 250 deals closed) especially in food & beverage, retail and consumer goods industry having supported the growth of the main Italian groups of the mentioned industries as well as having assisted international groups and private equity funds in their projects of acquisions / disposals. He is also a member of the BoD of several companies operating in the consumer goods industry. Member of the Advisory Board of IDEA Taste of Italy fund. Frequently invited as Lecturer / Visiting Professor for Undergraduate or MBA programs at Bocconi University. Prior to founding Vitale, Alberto was Deputy General Manager of Euromobiliare Corporate Finance. About Vitale Vitale was established in 2001 by Guido Roberto Vitale and a group of professionals with extensive experience in major international companies active in the fields of investment banking, strategic consulting and several other industries. The aim was to create an independent investment bank able to provide high-quality, creative and flexible solutions, responding without conflicts of interest to the specific needs of each project and client. Vitale has rapidly achieved a leading position in Italy, ranking as the go-to advisor in the design, structuring and execution of complex corporate finance transactions. In 2014 Vitale opened an office in Rome in order to better serve government agencies and large private and state-owned groups. In January Contact Alberto Gennarini Managing Partner Vitale & Co. S.p.A Tel: +39 02 6200 121 Email: agennarini@vitale-co.com www.vitale-co.com
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Italy Since its foundation, Vitale has acted as financial advisor in more than 350 projects with a total transaction value exceeding 60 billion euros. “ 37 www.finance-monthly.com 2017, with the involvement of two specialized partners, Vitale widened its strategic focus in real estate investment banking activities. Since its foundation, Vitale has acted as financial advisor in more than 350 projects with a total transaction value exceeding 60 billion euros. Business Lines Mergers & Acquisitions We leverage the extensive sector knowledge, wide relationship network and transaction experience of our senior professional to provide our clients with the insightful advice. Vitale provides the full range of advisory services in complex corporate finance transactions to large Italian or foreign groups, family-controlled companies, government agencies, private equity funds and financial institutions including Mergers & Acquisitions, Spin-offs, Distressed M&A, Joint Ventures, Fairness Opinions. Debt Advisory & Restructuring We provide a comprehensive range of debt and financial restructuring advisory services for companies and financial sponsors. Our debt advisory team offers acquisition, growth, and assetbased financings as well as refinancing and recapitalizations. Our capital sources include not only traditional commercial banks, but also alternative lenders such as credit funds, hedge funds and private debt capital. Our financial restructuring services include capital raising and rescue / bridge financing, covenant resets, distressed mergers & acquisitions, and assessment of strategic alternatives including complete restructurings of the balance sheet with write-downs and debt-to-equity swaps. Real Estate With more than 50 years of cumulated real estate advisory experience Vitale and its real estate team combine strong relationships and industry knowledge with superior capital markets and strategic advisory capabilities, including sell and buy side activity, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and debt advisory. With strong experience in office, retail, residential, logistics, alternative and development product types, we provide our clients with access to a broad range of global investors, unparalleled knowledge of the market and sophisticated financial advisory in order to achieve the most efficient deal execution. Vitale maintains a peerless track record of execution and delivery of the most innovative transactions in all major product types and platforms.
Americas 41 Roberto Crouzel Beccar Varela 42 Carlos Barbosa Mello Lefosse Advogados 44 Mike McIsaac Baker Tilly Canada 47 Sampford Advisors with Ed Bryant 48 Lauren Antion Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Argentina 41 www.finance-monthly.com About Roberto Crouzel Roberto H. Crouzel is a partner at Beccar Varela. He is a member of the Pro Bono Work Committee and co-leads the Mergers & Acquisitions Department. He began his career at the firm in 1984. He focuses his practice on mergers & acquisitions, business advisory, banks and financial institutions, debt restructuring and project financing. Roberto has extensive experience in the financial industry as well as advising on corporate law in a wide variety of industries, including telecommunications and natural resources. He also has extensive experience in advising on microfinance and family businesses. Roberto is a lawyer graduated from the University of Buenos Aires (1984). He has participated in numerous postgraduate courses at the Universidad Católica Argentina, Universidad Austral, Universidad Harvard Business School and the International Association of Development Law, among others. He served as a foreign associate at Holme Roberts & Owen (Denver, USA, 1996). He is a Counselor of the Pro Bono Commission of the Bar Association of the City of Buenos Aires, of which he was one of its founding members and president. He is also a member of the Public Bar Association of the Federal Capital and the International Bar Association (IBA). About Beccar Varela Founded in 1897, Beccar Varela is a leading comprehensive law firm in Argentina. We advise national and international companies from various industries in all areas of corporate law. Its members share a 125-year legacy that allows us to build an innovative and original practice, considering both the experience of our predecessors and the spirit of modern law. Our passion for the legal profession has driven the firm’s continued growth, both in prosperous and challenging times, positioning it at the forefront of the legal sector. Beccar Varela has been awarded the most prestigious awards and recognitions in legal services throughout its history. Contact Roberto Crouzel Partner, Beccar Varela Tel: (+54 11) 4379 6830 Email: rcrouzel@beccarvarela.com www.beccarvarela.com Mergers & Acquisitions Adviser of the Year Roberto Crouzel
Finance Monthly M&A Awards 2023 Brazil Capital Markets Adviser of the Year Carlos Barbosa Mello As a full-service law firm, we offer a complete range of services in all areas of law to national and international clients. The advice we provide stems from our partnership with our clients and deep knowledge of their business. “ 42 www.finance-monthly.com About Carlos Barbosa Mello Carlos is a partner in Corporate and M&A and Capital Markets at Lefosse. He has acted as leading counsel in several of the most important transactions in the Brazilian capital markets in recent years. He has developed relationships with issuers, coordinators and regulatory authorities, and expanded his activities into the areas of mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Carlos holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Columbia University and passed the New York State Bar Exam in 2002. He has experience as a foreign associate at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in New York. About Lefosse Advogados As a full-service law firm, we offer a complete range of services in all areas of law to national and international clients. The advice we provide stems from our partnership with our clients and deep knowledge of their business. Our multidisciplinary work is focused on delivering the best legal solutions for our clients. This level of excellence ensures we continue to produce first-rate results year after year. As our clients’ trusted advisors, we offer creative, innovative and simple solutions to complex matters. The firm has approximately 350 legal professionals, many of whom have practical experience in our client’s sectors. The team works on transactions that impact the economy and have a sophisticated nature. In 2021, we registered records in mergers and acquisitions transactions that exceed BRL 100 billion. We also led IPOs, and follow-ons that total BRL 55,8 billion, and private equity transactions of BRL 15,4 billion. Lefosse is recognized by the main legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, and The Legal 500. The firm has also been distinguished as an Elite Firm by Latin Lawyer. Contact Carlos Barbosa Mello Lefosse Advogados Tel: +55 11 3024 6126 Email: carlos.mello@lefosse.com www.lefosse.com/en/
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