Issue 10 2020

Acquisition International - Issue 10 2020 39 Aug20255 Brilliant Blacktrace Delivers Dutch Success For the third consecutive year, Dutch firm Blacktrace B.V. has been awarded the title of Best Independent M&A Advisory Firm - the Netherlands as part of Acquisition International’s Worldwide Finance Awards. Having secured this success for three years in a row, we spoke with Mr Jaap Smits about what it means for Blacktrace to have achieved such fantastic results both in and out of its own work. lacktrace is an independent and specialized M&A advisory firm based in The Netherlands, and is one that offers guidance to medium-sized and large businesses when implementing merger and acquisition transactions, attracting shareholder capital and arranging funding with typical transaction values between 25 and 250 million euros. The firm has won this award every year since 2018, despite the myriad of changes that have come about in the world during that time. Reflecting upon the last twelve months of success that Blacktrace has achieved, we at Acquisition International were fortunate enough to speak with Mr Jaap Smits, a core member of the elite team at Blacktrace that has steered the firm through the tumultuous last few years and months. “Last year was characterized by a rather diverse set of transactions”, Mr Smits says. Indeed, a quick glance at Blacktrace’s track record confirms his statement. For example, Blacktrace advised Dutch market-leading learning & development cloud platform PlusPort with its sale to the Norwegian PE-owned Visma, but also advised Abovo Media, the largest independent, full-service media agency in the Netherlands, on its acquisition of Maxlead, a digital marketing agency. Although these companies are totally different in operations, the transactions share similarities, and for Mr Smits, it’s about making those connections. “From the very start, Blacktrace has aspired to focus its strengths at the global market and being the link between Dutch, privately owned companies, and international financial and strategic parties who could not have found each other otherwise. 2019 has been a year in which we were able to make the difference for our clients with these specific strengths.”. 2019 proved itself to be another year of growing mergers and acquisitions activity. With a flourishing market, low interest rates, and volatile stock markets, private equity has been able to raise incredibly high amount of capital at institutional investors and large family offices who have been searching for ways to maintain attractive returns. This results in a competitive market with high valuations, creating a seller’s market. However, the first signs of an economy cooling down have started to arise thanks to the emergence and subsequent spread of COVID-19. Key markets have begun to show slight recessions, but there are generally good long-term perspectives. Blacktrace’s project pipeline has not been affected by the situation, and it remains confident that mergers and acquisitions activity in general will pick up once again. Blacktrace also recognizes that successful cross-border transactions require eyes and ears in places that matter. That is why the firm has increased its efforts to further grow its worldwide network of likeminded M&A boutiques, and named it World M&A Alliance. Its current reach stretches from New York to Delhi, and from Milan to São Paulo. The WMAA works with preferred partnerships, having one B member per country. Members share information and pitch together for deals that need an international project team. As an example, Blacktrace is currently working together on a project in the agricultural sector with a partner from India. Thanks to its structure, Blacktrace is flexible to all economic factors, and can respond to client wishes faster than a large corporate could. Client centricity is key in the mergers and acquisitions arena, and as such, Blacktrace offers its clients valuable specialism when needed the most. The team at the firm takes care of the process from beginning to end, and is always available to clients, enabling them to respond quickly when necessary and provide clients with the reassurance they need that they are truly in safe hands. Mr Smits closes out our time together by sharing his final thoughts on the year that Blacktrace has had, and the success that the firm has accrued. “Blacktrace is delighted to receive this award for the third year in a row. It is the tangible recognition from our clients and partners. Last year, Blacktrace expanded its track record with several high-profile deals. 2020 has already proven to be a fruitful year, with many projects in the pipeline, through which we want to continue delivering the highest quality service”. Company: Blacktrace B.V. Contact: Jaap Smits Website: https://www.blacktrace.nl/ MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS