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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ The North Star: a conversation with Dirk Meeus of A&O Shearman ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/the-north-star-a-conversation-with-dirk-meeus-of-ao-shearman/ ]]>
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            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 28 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ What keeps a renowned M&A lawyer energised after thirty years in the game? For Dirk Meeus, global co-head of M&A at A&O Shearman, it's never been about the paperwork. It's the complexity, the emotions and the sheer number of moving parts that make every deal irresistible – and his ability to hold onto the client's North Star amid all of it has made him one of Belgium's most respected dealmakers. ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ M&A Strategy Forum 2026 - Photo Gallery ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/ma-strategy-forum-2026-photo-gallery/ ]]>
            </link>
            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 25 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ Photo Gallery of the M&A Strategy Forum 2026.  ]]>
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                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/ma-strategy-forum-2026-photo-gallery/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ United Petfood expands foothold in US ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/united-petfood-expands-foothold-in-us/ ]]>
            </link>
            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 24 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ Ghent-based United Petfood has signed an agreement to acquire its second production site from Wellness Pet Company.  ]]>
            </description>
            <guid>
                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/united-petfood-expands-foothold-in-us/ ]]>
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        </item>        <item>
            <title>
                <![CDATA[ From investor to ambassador: Fortino Ventures doubles down on Spott ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/from-investor-to-ambassador-fortino-ventures-doubles-down-on-spott/ ]]>
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            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 23 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ Fortino Ventures’ managing partner and talent acquisition expert reveal why it is reinvesting in Spott’s $21 million Series A round. ]]>
            </description>
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                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/from-investor-to-ambassador-fortino-ventures-doubles-down-on-spott/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ Deba joins Argona on its quest to claim "the Golden Fleece" ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/deba-joins-argona-on-its-quest-to-claim-the-golden-fleece/ ]]>
            </link>
            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 22 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ Argona, a collaboration between Belgian energy and construction specialists, has added Deba to the group. ]]>
            </description>
            <guid>
                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/deba-joins-argona-on-its-quest-to-claim-the-golden-fleece/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ For Eye-Opener, all roads lead back to Tomorrowland ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/for-eye-opener-all-roads-lead-back-to-tomorrowland/ ]]>
            </link>
            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 21 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ Tomorrowland Ventures, the investment arm of WEAREONE.world, has acquired theme developer Eye-Opener. ]]>
            </description>
            <guid>
                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/for-eye-opener-all-roads-lead-back-to-tomorrowland/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ Nathalie Callie: Deals are more fun when you work together ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/nathalie-callie-deals-are-more-fun-when-you-work-together/ ]]>
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            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 21 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ CEO Nathalie Callie reveals the multi-brand approach behind PIA Group’s Benelux buy-and-build strategy.  ]]>
            </description>
            <guid>
                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/nathalie-callie-deals-are-more-fun-when-you-work-together/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ Horsum expands in the Antwerp-Brussels axis with Smithii acquisition ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/horsum-expands-in-the-antwerp-brussels-axis-with-smithii-acquisition/ ]]>
            </link>
            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 18 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ From 1 October 2026, Horsum (part of Vandelanotte) will welcome the Smithii team to its Antwerp offices. ]]>
            </description>
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                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/horsum-expands-in-the-antwerp-brussels-axis-with-smithii-acquisition/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ AI in dealmaking: from simple prompts to systems intelligence ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/ai-in-dealmaking-from-simple-prompts-to-systems-intelligence/ ]]>
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            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 17 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ In the run-up to the Private Equity Summit 2026, MandA.be sat down with Wessel Wijtvliet, AI solutions lead at Loyens & Loeff and research fellow at KU Leuven, to distinguish dealmakers’ value in an era of AI. ]]>
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                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/ai-in-dealmaking-from-simple-prompts-to-systems-intelligence/ ]]>
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            <title>
                <![CDATA[ How Sebas is scaling using a “builder’s mindset” ]]>
            </title>
            <link>
            <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/how-sebas-is-scaling-using-a-builders-mindset/ ]]>
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            <pubDate>
                <![CDATA[ 16 September 2026 ]]>
            </pubDate>
            <description>
                <![CDATA[ The AI-native property manager has raised €5 million to fund further growth, following two initial acquisitions. ]]>
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                <![CDATA[ https://manda.be/articles/how-sebas-is-scaling-using-a-builders-mindset/ ]]>
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