Cedric Ide

📌 Its mid-April and you thought you were done with the ADV, didn’t you? Well, you are not quite finished! RIAs still need to address client delivery obligations. Under SEC Rule 204-3, you must deliver either: • The updated brochure (Part 2A), or • A summary of material changes along with an offer to provide the full brochure. This must be done within 120 days of your fiscal year-end, so for many firms, that means by April 30. Anything else to include? Well, if you filed a Form CRS and it has material changes then include it along with the Brochure. Similarly, the Privacy Notice should also be included. It is easy to overlook the delivery requirements after the demands of ADV season. Don’t let a completed filing turn into a deficiency! Make sure delivery is done and documented! #NotDoneYet #compliancelife #crc #documentdocumentdocument #RIAcompliance

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I'm very excited to welcome Stéphane Corsaletti as a Strategic Advisor to Titanbay. Stéphane is one of the architects of modern European B2B fund distribution. He founded ABN AMRO Investment Solutions and ran it as CEO for more than two decades, building it into one of Europe's largest multi-management platforms. He then joined Allfunds, the world's largest B2B fund distribution platform, where he built its investment solutions and sub-advisory business from the ground up. Few people anywhere have shaped how wealth platforms select, structure and distribute investment products more than he has. European private markets distribution is at the start of its defining decade. The platforms that build the infrastructure to make this work at scale will shape how wealth clients access private assets for a generation. That is the platform we are building. Having Stéphane choose to build it with us tells you everything about where this market is going. And, all that aside, he is genuinely lovely to work with. Welcome, Stéphane.

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Getting married? In M&A, choosing the right partner can matter more than the valuation.   On the surface, many deals look compelling: strong financials, clear synergies, an attractive growth story. But the deals that truly succeed tend to be those where expectations, culture, and long-term ambitions are aligned from the outset.   Often there is this blinding fixation just on valuation! We often encourage founders and shareholders to think beyond the numbers and ask a few practical questions early on: - Who is the right partner to turbo-charge our journey? - Are we aligned on the long-term vision; growth, reinvestment, and exit timing? - How will decisions actually be made post-deal? Governance and control matter. - Do ways of working and values genuinely align? Culture is revealed quickly after completion.   At Highstead Partners, we see the strongest outcomes when clients spend as much time diligencing the partner as they do the transaction itself.   Because much like a marriage, successful M&A isn’t just about committing; it’s about everything that happens after… where the magic happens! Here is a great article that dives deeper into this topc: https://lnkd.in/eGnjcPz2?

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Sharing this sharp piece from our London colleagues. The dynamics are equally visible in the Nordics. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway are all moving in the same direction: tighter data residency rules, more public-sector mandates for domestic hosting, and growing defence-tech allocations towards sovereign cloud and secure communications. With cool climates, stable grids, and strong regulatory frameworks, the Nordic region is structurally well placed, but the underlying market remains fragmented, and much of the capacity still sits with non-domestic operators. For founders and sponsors holding fibre, data centre, managed hosting, or cybersecurity assets with a Nordic footprint and public-sector exposure, the strategic re-rating described below is already evident in the live processes we are seeing. Happy to compare notes if you are evaluating options for your TMT infrastructure asset.

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A great short video from our IMAP - International Mergers and Acquisitions Partnership partner Dr. Carsten Lehmann explaining how to maximize value. It is truly the art of M&A; how a very experienced M&A advisor positions your business to buyers and maximizes competitive tension to increase the value you receive in a well run transaction process. #mNa #maximizevalue

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UK private equity firms are increasingly domiciling funds outside the UK, with around half of new funds set up offshore over the past four years. The most popular destination? Luxembourg, now home to roughly a third of UK PE funds. This is happening for a number of reasons, including the fact that EU-based structures are easier to market across Europe post-Brexit. Luxembourg also offers predictable regulation and legal familiarity, while international LPs already understand the jurisdiction. Industry bodies argue the UK still has a strong transparency regime but the data shows fund formation is voting with its feet. From my view, capital doesn’t follow patriotism, it follows distribution, certainty, and efficiency and jurisdictions that ignore that lose relevance fast. Financial Times: https://lnkd.in/ddnC9yDM

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Interesting reading our latest views on Global M&A Trends that @Matt shared below. I'm confident there will be many opportunities for selective bolt-on M&A on underperforming assets for traditional trade and PE. This type of acquisition can create real value when the risks are considered and factored into a deal. #PwCDeals

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Great to see this from Stuart Pinnington and the London team at IQ-EQ . The shift toward bespoke, institutional-style private markets allocation is exactly what we are seeing across APAC family offices, with governance and alignment moving up the agenda alongside it. Looking forward to building the same depth of dialogue with our principals in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. #familyoffices #APAC

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Private credit: strong tailwinds, sharper scrutiny It was great to host so many clients at our latest Private Credit Tax Forum in London today. One message was clear: private credit’s growth story remains strong - but the bar has risen. We opened with the macro picture. Bank retrenchment is structural, not cyclical. Private credit is now central to financing the real economy. But higher-for-longer rates, a refinancing wall and more complex capital structures mean greater judgement - and inevitably, greater scrutiny. From there: Eli Hillman unpacked the practical impact of the new UK carried interest regime for credit funds - where average holding period mechanics and qualifying vs non-qualifying carry will be decisive. Michelle Adcock explored the intensifying regulatory focus on private markets, including systemic risk and governance expectations. Chen Wei and Amanda Huddleson examined US tax developments and the growing relevance of retail capital strategies for global credit managers. Andrew Robinson highlighted current deal pressure points - including withholding tax, beneficial ownership and substance - against a backdrop of continued audit activity. Across all discussions, one theme stood out: convergence. Tax, regulation, structuring and investor optics are no longer separate conversations. A more data-led and assertive HM Revenue & Customs, increasing cross-border alignment and political focus on tax outcomes mean legacy models are being tested in a different environment. The structural tailwinds remain. But governance, transparency and defensible positions have never mattered more. Russell Gibson Virilo Moro Amy Manchia James Mercer Gavin Kan Robert Peel Serena Bell #PrivateCredit #PrivateDebt #AlternativeAssetManagement #Tax #KPMG

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You Can’t Fix Finance if You Don’t Understand It Many people enter impact investing with big ambitions — but without truly understanding how conventional finance works. To change the system, you have to know how it runs. 🎧 Tune in as Hadewych Kuiper, Managing Director at Triodos Investment Management, shares her journey from mainstream consulting to mission-driven investing, and explains how Triodos is using capital to drive systemic change: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMxFcTsS #SRI360 #ImpactInvesting #SustainableInvesting #Sustainability #ImpactOnly #ImpactOnlyPortfolio #BlendedFinance #TriodosInvestmentManagement #HadewychKuiper

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The opening days of 2026 have reminded us that geopolitical shifts have become a constant consideration for global investors. Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine have dominated the headlines. And rising trade and export controls in East Asia show that Japan is not immune from these risks.   Nevertheless, at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Ltd, we continue to see Japan’s investment story as being defined by progress. Structural reforms and a renewed emphasis on returns are gradually reshaping how Japanese companies are run and valued. Longer-term, the future is also bright, with strong investment in automation and robotics opening up the opportunity for Japan to better leverage its historic strengths in science and innovation.   The Nikkei 225 is currently trading over 53,000. Our house forecast is that the index will reach 55,000 during the course of 2026, representing a 6% uplift year-on-year and a strong compound gain for those that took the plunge a few years ago. That being so, the prospects and performance of individual companies range hugely, offering rich attractive returns for stock-pickers.   In my engagements across Japan over the past year, I I have seen corporates act with growing intent and capital discipline. In a volatile world, steady progress with significant further upside should not be taken lightly.

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We’re delighted to share the news that IQ EQ Management, our AMF-approved management company in France, was appointed as delegated portfolio manager by Arkéa Asset Management for the launch of Arkéa Exclusive Impact Infrastructure Debt Fund. The fund has successfully obtained ELTIF 2.0 approval and is designed to finance infrastructure projects that drive energy and digital transformation in Europe. “We’re very pleased to support Arkéa Asset Management and Exclusive Partners in the launch of Arkéa Exclusive Impact Infrastructure Debt, an ELTIF 2 fund that perfectly illustrates the evolution of the market towards more accessible, more sustainable and better regulated investment solutions,” says Bertrand d'Anselme, CEO of IQ-EQ France. “Thanks to our expertise in structuring and administering alternative funds, we’ve been able to set up a robust framework, compliant with the latest regulatory requirements, while offering investors a smooth and secure experience. This partnership is fully in line with our ambition to be a reference player for alternative funds, particularly for next-generation ELTIF vehicles.” https://ow.ly/toEh30sUxbs #oneiqeq #ELTIF #fundlaunch #evergreenfunds #privatedebt

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EBITDA-enhancing policies focus today increasingly on pricing strategies. In this insightful interview EY-Parthenon colleagues deep dive further on this topic and recent trends. Mark Sheikh Maarten Moreels #pricingstrategy #EYParthenon #valuecration #toplinefocus #inspiringclients

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More news from our stellar M&A team 💪 EY-Parthenon Corporate Finance is proud to have acted as exclusive financial adviser to Vending Automater in its sale to Executive Capital. Vending Automater is the European leader in specialized vending machines with demanding use cases in e.g. trains, airports and shopping centers. We thank the shareholders for their trust in EY-Parthenon Corporate Finance and wish both parties great success in their collaboration going forward. Read more about the transaction in the press release: https://lnkd.in/eXu_jWc

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From FOMO, to SLOW-MO, now finding again its MOJO?! 🚀 🚀 With capital efficiency having become the new standard, investors are prioritizing sustainable growth over “growth at all costs,” fundamentally reshaping how tech companies are evaluated, how fundamental growth is executed and how lasting success is defined. During IPEM Paris 2025, we discussed how the market favors��discipline, focus, and strategic thinking over sheer momentum with outlier industry exceptions such as for e.g. AI-native and DefenseTech companies. It was a pleasure to share perspectives we’ve honed at HPE Growth since 2014, focusing on sustainable, long-term growth in European technology. Some key observations discussed:  • Sector expertise matters: tech companies with deep sector knowledge and defensible business models with strong client relations consistently stand out, even in a selective market (e.g. Digital Health, Vertical SaaS, RegTech, Embedded Finance). • The market is not uniform: as the focus shifts towards growth and profitability, certain sectors continue to attract strong investor confidence and premium valuations (take AI-native and DefenseTech), while others face pressure under greater scrutiny (ConsumerTech)  • Exit strategies are evolving: with (European) IPOs increasingly selective, alternative liquidity routes next to strategic exits like growth tech buy-out are becoming increasingly more relevant for late stage growth companies.  • Emerging opportunities: technologies including AI, CyberSecurity, Industrial Automation, Energy Efficiency, and Payment Infrastructure were highlighted as promising, driven by European sovereignty and climate priorities. Special thanks to my fellow co-panellists for creating a valuable conversation: Karen McCormick (Beringea), Salomé Caillat (Revaia), Guillaume Vitrich (White & Case LLP) 

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AMG Critical Materials N.V., the Amsterdam-listed producer of highly engineered specialty materials (market cap c. €1.5bn), has announced that it has reached agreement on the recommended cash and share acquisition of the c. 71% in Zinnwald Lithium Plc it does not already own. AMG has also secured ‘hard’ irrevocable undertakings from the two largest non-AMG shareholders of Zinnwald Lithium (representing > 20% of Zinnwald Lithium’s ISC) and including AMG’s existing 29% shareholding the acquisition has support from shareholders representing > 50% of Zinnwald Lithium’s shareholders. Zinnwald Lithium (an AIM-listed PLC) is advancing one of Europe’s largest integrated lithium projects, focused on supplying battery-grade lithium hydroxide, and is seeking to become a leading domestic supplier to the European battery industry. AMG’s acquisition of one of the major lithium reserves in Europe represents a major strategic step in consolidating Europe’s critical minerals industry and significantly increases AMG’s resource base. Europa Partners is acting as sole financial adviser to AMG. Link to full announcement https://lnkd.in/eeew2m4M

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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁? In the Oaklins Netherlands Q3 2025 newsletter, we share the latest intelligence on deal flow, debt packages, equity capital markets, and valuations. Key highlights: 🔹 M&A activity in Q3 2025 reached its highest level in 3 years in the Netherlands 🔹 In the Netherlands PE participated in 65 transactions; non-PE acquisitions increased from 223 in Q2 to 236 in Q3. 🔹 Lenders remained active throughout what became an unusually busy summer. 🔹 Supported by easing trade tensions, commitments to long-term investment in European defense and infrastructure, ongoing AI optimism and Fed rate cuts, European equities extended their gains. 🔹 Valuation multiples rose across size buckets. Large-cap deals (>€500m) moved to 16.1x and mid-market deals (€50 – 500m) to 12.5x. Moreover, the report includes an overview of our deals in the Netherlands and the latest market intelligence reports published by our global sector experts. https://lnkd.in/efu3efDH

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Deal announcement 🎉 PMP Strategy supported Arcus Infrastructure Partners LLP as Buy-side Commercial and Technical Adviser on the acquisition of Wifinity, a leading UK provider of mission-critical managed connectivity across complex, multi-site environments. Our work focused on Wifinity’s defensible market position, high-criticality customer use cases, scalable operating platform, and long-term growth optionality, alongside technical diligence delivered with LD Expertise. A strong example of where digital infrastructure meets software-like economics. Thanks to the Arcus team for the trust, and congratulations to Wifinity on the next phase of growth. #TMT #privateequity #deals #PMP

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Another record year for Mutares as we publish our 2025 results. Net profits grew +20% to €130.4m and Group revenues +23% to €6.5b versus 2024. On a personal high note, we also acquired GDL Anläggning & Miljö AB and M3 Schakt AB, where I have had the pleasure to run the transformation - together with its very talented management - towards becoming the leading Swedish provider of waste mgmt. and construction logistics. Most importantly, I'm so indescribably proud of the work done by my global team of Transformation Managers, across our portfolio companies, to set up and accelerate the realignments of our acquisitions. Your efforts are an integral part of what helps sustain this success story.

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