Dealbridge M&A Advisors

We are delighted to announce our role as advisor to SEFKO, a leading Polish packaging supplier, on its pending acquisition by Estiko Packaging Solutions based in Estonia. This cross-border transaction underlines our commitment to matching strong businesses in Poland with strategic international investors. Congratulations to both SEFKO and Estiko on this milestone! For more details visit https://lnkd.in/dfyGM5mr . #MergersAndAcquisitions #Dealbridge #CrossBorderTransactions #BusinessGrowth #PackagingIndustry

Dealbridge is delighted to Welcome GOIKO brand to Portugal! Silva Carvalho Group based in Sintra with more than 40 years' experience in the catering sector, has decided to take on another challenge by joining forces through a Joint Venture with the great Spanish family Goiko Grill Group, which already has more than 100 restaurants in 4 European countries! The first GOIKO restaurant in Portugal will open its doors in the 1st trimester of 2025 in a prime Lisbon neighbourhood! Congratulations to all the teams involved! It's sure to be a perfect union that will whet the appetites of millions of Portuguese! For more information, please contact: Paula Ferreira Araújo paula.araujo@dealbridge.eu – Dealbridge Portugal #Europe #Goiko #JoinVenture #Dealbridge

🌍 Mid-Market Companies are Driving a Resurgence in Cross-Border M&A In today’s globalized economy, cross-border transactions have become essential —not only for business owners in regions with a limited buyer pool but also for companies in developed markets seeking to broaden their reach to potential acquirers. Expanding internationally can not only increase the chance of a successful deal, but also the chances for a higher purchase price. That is why Dealbridge consultants discuss current mandates with each other in strict confidence. Once a year, they meet in a European city to exchange expertise. (The picture shows some of the participants at the 2024 annual conference in Porto, Portugal.) For acquirers, whether strategic or financial sponsors, cross-border M&A unlocks numerous opportunities: 🔹 Reduced Competition for in-demand targets 🔹 Potentially Lower Valuations in select markets 🔹 Broader Company Selection fitting buy & build strategies 🔹 Strategic Expansion to foreign markets 🔹 Portfolio Diversification Cross-border M&A isn’t just a trend—it’s a powerful strategy for growth, diversification, and long-term resilience. #CrossBorderMandA #MidMarket #BusinessGrowth #MergersAndAcquisitions #GlobalExpansion #InvestmentOpportunities

An EU agenda for small and medium-sized enterprises There is an EU economic policy agenda for SMEs. Are you aware of it? Well, many politicians apparently are not either. Although the main demands have been on the table since 2008, the proposed measures have so far only been partially, half-heartedly or not at all implemented in the EU countries. The week ahead has been designated EU SME Week, and the SME Assembly is meeting in Budapest for its annual conference. To mark the occasion, Dealbridge is once again presenting the Small Business Act here: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ACT (SBA)? It is a non-binding document, but it has received the support of the European Council and the European Parliament. KEY POINTS The SBA's main priorities are to encourage entrepreneurship, improve access to finance, reduce administrative burdens and improve access to markets and internationalization. These priorities are set out in 10 principles that guide the design and implementation of policies at EU and EU country level: 1.An environment should be created in which entrepreneurs and family businesses can flourish and in which entrepreneurship pays off. 2.Honest entrepreneurs who have faced bankruptcy should be given a second chance quickly. 3.Rules should be designed according to the principle “Think small first”. 4.Public administrations should be more responsive to the needs of SMEs. 5. Policy instruments should be designed in a way that is SME-friendly, so that SMEs can more easily participate in public tenders and make better use of state aid. 6. Access to finance should be facilitated for SMEs and a legal and economic environment created for more timely payment in business life. 7. SMEs should be helped to benefit more from the opportunities offered by the EU single market. 8.Promote upskilling and all forms of innovation at the level of SMEs. 9.Enable SMEs to turn environmental challenges into business opportunities. 10.Encourage SMEs to benefit from market growth and provide them with the support to do so. A review also proposed new measures to integrate the SBA into the Europe 2020 strategy. These measures include: - promoting the “only once” principle for public bodies when requesting information or documents, - improving access to finance through loan guarantees, - a common consolidated corporate tax base in the internal market. A public consultation on the SBA in 2014 found that, while progress had been made, - administrative and legal burdens were still the main concerns, - access to finance was still difficult despite the measures taken, - further efforts were needed in terms of market access, particularly with regard to improving the links between existing EU programs. That was ten years ago. What has changed since then? #SMEAssembly2024 #SME #SmallBusinessAct #SBA #EUSMEWeek #EUPolicy

Dealbridge Explores China Business. Exciting investment opportunities for European companies emerging from Hangzhou Summit! Our Dealbridge Partner Constantinos Christodoulou had a productive week connecting with Chinese companies and entrepreneurs at the PCI Summit and Manufacturing Sector Service Provider International Development Conference in Hangzhou. The discussions highlighted a growing interest in expanding operations and investing in Europe. Key themes that emerged: - Tech and Innovation: A strong focus on AI, green tech, and digital solutions. - Manufacturing and Supply Chains: Opportunities for partnerships and investments in European manufacturing hubs. - Consumer Goods: Growing demand for high-quality European products in the Chinese market. Constantinos commented “I'm optimistic about the potential for mutually beneficial collaborations between European and Chinese businesses, which can boost M&A activity. Let's discuss how we can leverage these opportunities together.” #Europe #China #Investment #M&A #GlobalEconomy #Dealbridge  

Significant differences in European SME valuation with multiples Multiple ratios are an important tool for professional company valuation. Dealbridge has observed that there are various sources with differing data for the valuation of European SMEs. In a Europe-wide network such as dealbridge M&A advisors, the partners exchange information on these valuation differences. In addition, they help each other with well-founded company value appraisals. Cross-border M&A transactions between EU countries or neighbouring European countries such as Turkey, Switzerland or the UK therefore require special expertise. Different economic conditions, regulatory requirements and market structures make it difficult to adopt multiples 1:1. Added to this are differences in financial reporting. Differences exist mainly from country to country, but sometimes also for the same national territory, depending on the data provider. It is also important to choose the right data source: providers such as: 👉 Orbis/Moodys Analytics (formerly Bureau van Dijk) 👉 S&P Capital IQ 👉 Preqin (recently acquired by Blackrock) 👉 Refinitiv (LSEG Data & Analytics;) 👉 PitchBook 👉 Mergermarkets (ION Analytics) collect their data in different ways - from stock market data and public reports to market surveys or through cooperation with specific M&A advisors. The form of presentation also plays a role. The NIMBO platform, for example, breaks down its data by country into five large economic sectors with multiples based on EBITC, EBIT, EBITDA and turnover, as well as into four different company sizes according to the number of employees. As an unweighted average of the size classes <6 to 25> and <26 to 99> employees, NIMBO produces the following current (10/2024) EBIT multiples, for example 🇪🇸 Spain: 10.07 🇵🇹 Portugal: 9.10 🇩🇪 Germany: 7.74 🇵🇱 Poland: 5.13 The NIMBO-value for Germany corresponds well with the data from two data providers that are used frequently in the market: FINANCE Magazine currently cites an average of 7.4 for “small caps” (up to €50 million annual turnover) for September 2024; Deutsche Unternehmerbörse DUB also reports 7.4, but as an average of the “maximum multiples”. On the DUB website, however, you can find out free of charge that the minimum values are only 4.4 on average, and 5.9 is calculated over the entire range; at FINANCE it is 5.6 for “Micro-Caps”(<20 Mio.€). It should also be noted that the multiples of different branches differ considerably from over-all-averages: According to DUB, an SME in the “Consulting Services” sector currently pays a minimum of 3.3 times EBIT, but a maximum of 9.2 times. Moreover, multiples only ever represent a benchmark. Dealbridge-partner Constantinos from Cyprus comments: “Overall valuation analysts need to conduct continuous research on market dynamics and industry trends to perform their work effectively and bear in mind that one size does not fit all.” #M&A #Company valuation #SMEs #dealbridge #multiples

Dealbridge Portugal at the Launch of the FCT Equity Fund   We’re excited to announce Dealbridge Portugal’s participation in the launch of the FCT Equity Fund, a new investment fund focused on renewable energy, particularly solar power. The fund is currently raising capital to invest directly in promising renewable energy projects. Its mission is to support companies in Portugal and Brazil that lack the resources or expertise to transition to renewable energy sources. By investing in these projects, the fund aims to accelerate the energy transition and drive sustainable growth.   Interested in learning more about the fund's investment strategy and fundraising criteria? Contact Bruno Morgado at bruno.morgado@dealbridge.eu     #RenewableEnergy #FCTEquityFund #Investment #Dealbridge #EnergyTransition

Dealbridge M&A Advisors Spain Achieves Successful Cross-Border M&A Transaction! We’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of a cross-border M&A deal where a British renewable energy company was sold to a Spanish strategic investor. Our team in Spain acted as the sell-side advisor, providing expert guidance throughout the process. A big congratulations to all the teams involved! For more details please contact: Vicente Martín Egaña - Dealbridge Spain Sindo Varela - Dealbridge Spain #Dealbridge #CrossBorder #RenewableEnergy #TransactionCompleted

Annual M&A Conference 2024: An Insightful Gathering in Porto 🌍 This year, the partners of Dealbridge M&A Advisors met in the picturesque city of Porto, the historical origin of our network, for their annual conference. Known for its vibrant harbor, academic prominence, and world-renowned wine, Porto provided the perfect venue for our discussions. Our network brings together seasoned M&A consultants specializing in facilitating cross-border transactions for medium-sized companies. The event was enriched by the welcome of new partners from Berlin and Nicosia, reflecting our ongoing expansion and commitment to strengthening our European presence 🤝. Participants, including private equity representatives and major industrial suppliers, engaged eagerly in sessions aimed at expanding services beyond the Iberian Peninsula to other European markets. These discussions focused on identifying attractive buy-side targets and potential partners for joint ventures. Throughout the conference, we concentrated on refining our M&A strategies, incorporating innovative tools, and embracing collaborative approaches that enhance our service to clients across Europe. The conference concluded on Friday, 10th of May, with heartfelt appreciation to Paula and Bruno from Dealbridge Portugal, whose exceptional organizational skills ensured a seamless and productive meeting. We look forward to continuing these important conversations at our next annual gathering in Berlin, the dynamic capital of Germany, in May 2025 ✈️.   #Dealbridge #MandA #MidMarket #BusinessStrategy #Collaboration #AnnualMeeting2024 #Porto #CrossBorderTransactions

Annual M&A Conference 2024: An Insightful Gathering in Porto 🌍 This year, the partners of Dealbridge M&A Advisors met in the picturesque city of Porto, the historical origin of our network, for their annual conference. Known for its vibrant harbor, academic prominence, and world-renowned wine, Porto provided the perfect venue for our discussions. Our network brings together seasoned M&A consultants specializing in facilitating cross-border transactions for medium-sized companies. The event was enriched by the welcome of new partners from Berlin and Nicosia, reflecting our ongoing expansion and commitment to strengthening our European presence 🤝. Participants, including private equity representatives and major industrial suppliers, engaged eagerly in sessions aimed at expanding services beyond the Iberian Peninsula to other European markets. These discussions focused on identifying attractive buy-side targets and potential partners for joint ventures. Throughout the conference, we concentrated on refining our M&A strategies, incorporating innovative tools, and embracing collaborative approaches that enhance our service to clients across Europe. The conference concluded on Friday, 10th of May, with heartfelt appreciation to Paula and Bruno from Dealbridge Portugal, whose exceptional organizational skills ensured a seamless and productive meeting. We look forward to continuing these important conversations at our next annual gathering in Berlin, the dynamic capital of Germany, in May 2025 ✈️.   #Dealbridge #MandA #MidMarket #BusinessStrategy #Collaboration #AnnualMeeting2024 #Porto #CrossBorderTransactions