Interviews

KooKoo founder, Simon Stremersch, uses his passion for processes and technology to help clients navigate unsupported growth plans, untapped pricing potential and overestimated synergy cases.

Smile Invest’s bets are paying off as the Benelux private equity firm celebrates realising its first seven investments.

KooKoo co-founder Margot Desseyn fell in love with dealmaking because of the people; now she brings them together to discuss the strategies behind making these deals a success, and will join the M&A Community Belgium on 24 September 2026 in Antwerp to do it again.

During a recent M&A Community Belgium event, Syntagma Capital advisory board member and VIU founder Rudi Nerinckx revealed the top priorities on a carve-out HR agenda; from competency audits and TSAs to value creation plans.

Communication is key to achieving sustainable growth after the deal closes, reveals the Head of Strategic M&A Integrations at SD Worx.

Andrea Foti, managing director and chief commercial officer EMEA at Aon’s M&A and Transaction Solutions, has spent more than two decades at the heart of M&A’s evolution – from investment banking to reshaping risk management in deals.

CEO Jan Bussels shares how his M&A strategy has resulted in Digitopia’s exponential growth in recent years.

Investing in non-listed companies is very popular among entrepreneurs and family offices, especially now that real estate investments yield less and stock markets are volatile. Reason for Marktlink Capital to expand to Belgium with Vincent Germyns, a seasoned Belgian banking professional, in the lead.

70 percent of M&A transactions fail to deliver their promised value, and the culprit is rarely the numbers. It’s the people. From clashing cultures to disengaged teams, the human element is where even the most meticulously planned deals unravel. So how do leaders turn the tide? By treating the ‘soft stuff’ as the hard stuff.

Private equity can no longer rely on cheap money and rising multiples. To achieve returns, investors must dig deeper into the business itself. “Broader due diligence and more active value creation have become increasingly important in recent years”, says Rob van den Berg, Director of Strategy & Operations at Eight Advisory.

When Itai Oshri left home at the age of 16, he had his heart set on becoming a professional cyclist, until he fell in love with the Belgian M&A industry.

Joachim Vansanten, Partner at Quanteus Group, believes that it’s possible to generate profit and create impact without compromising on either. With a hands-on approach, a strong focus on impact, and a long-term vision, the investment firm distinguishes itself in a market often dominated by short-term thinking.

A recent white paper by Aon suggests that now is the moment to leverage carve-outs, and PwC Legal’s Bart Vanstaen agrees, but only if businesses are truly prepared.

The opportunities and challenges of building a polycentric law firm in a traditionally centralized legal landscape.

Most M&A infrastructure is built with one country, language, or asset class in mind. Synergy AI Co-Founder & CEO Sacha Vandermeersch argues this is why Europe's mid-market is structurally underserved.

At the latest M&A Belgium Community Summit, PwC Legal’s Ive Serneels shared some valuable insights on the importance of preparing a company for sale focussing on managing risks and creating value. In a follow-up interview, he unpacks the reality of deal-readiness with colleague Bart Vanstaen.

Wallonia is becoming one of Belgium's most compelling M&A markets, and Closing’s new shareholder, Maxime Claes, thinks the professionals who'll thrive there are those who understand that the numbers are only half the story.

In M&A transactions, the data room generally holds all the information a buyer needs to know about a target company’s business, and for the first time, technology allows them to actually assess all of it.

For Laurent Dela Marlière, modern deal origination is less about finding a transaction and more about shaping inevitability around the right one.

Bank van Breda’s Head of Advisory, Kristoph Wauters, believes that an important yet overlooked part of any deal preparation process is the owners’ feelings.

Michael Van Eenoo, Head of Corporate Finance at ING Belgium, on 2026’s two-speed market, the restructuring of ING’s corporate finance teams and the future of dealmaking.

Veteran M&A professional and author Leo van de Voort has spent decades watching value slip through the cracks after deals are signed and urges dealmakers to approach due diligence and execution differently.

From humble beginnings to global ambitions: The Belgian startup journey.

Using M&A as a tool to improve your strategic position in a world defined by AI, decarbonization and de‑globalization.

Warranty & Indemnity insurance has become an increasingly important part of the M&A toolkit, used not only to transfer risk but also to improve deal certainty, ease negotiations and, in some cases, preserve post-deal relationships.

Patrick Putman’s advice is grounded in hard-won experience: "Involve IT early, plan for every scenario, and never underestimate the human and contractual dimensions of change."

Exclusive insights from Magali Fiechter-Deloof, founder of Nextwire, on how AI is reshaping dealmaking, leadership, and post-merger integration. Her vision: “AI transformation is 90 percent people and 10 percent technology. The technology is the easy part. The leadership, the operating model, the culture, that's where real differentiation happens.”

It’s not enough to make a good deal financially and legally; it also requires an understanding of what makes the market like, trust, and remain loyal to your brand, as this may have a critical impact on the businesses’ long-term viability.

Whether he’s tuning up his Bobby Ewing-era Mercedes SL convertible for a weekend rally, or considering mergers and acquisitions in Belgium’s business landscape, Age Lindenbergh finds satisfaction in patience, preparation, and personal attention to detail – qualities he believes still lie at the heart of great dealmaking.

Belgium remains a solid and resilient economy, but a recent report by Eight Advisory makes clear that strong foundations alone are no longer enough. The country’s challenge is to convert its assets into growth, innovation, and long-term resilience.

While the Dutch optical market is already heavily consolidated, Belgium – where around 75 percent of stores remain independent – is clearly moving in the same direction.

In the run-up to the annual Private Equity Summit, MandA.be sat down with Thomas Lenné, Partner and Attorney at Law at Loyens & Loeff and one of the event’s speakers, to discuss the shifting landscape of Belgian M&A and private equity.

Belgium’s private equity landscape is being rewritten from the bottom up – not by institutions, but by investors themselves.

The appointment of Joost Schardijn as partner at Smile Sail marks a new chapter for the young investment firm. For him, too, it is a return to familiar waters: the world of software, strategy, and growth. “I wasn’t really looking for a new opportunity”, he says. “But then a headhunter reached out. The timing, the people, the ambition – it all just connected.”

Everyone’s talking about AI as if it will soon run M&A deals on autopilot. But Alexander Veithen has spent more than two decades inside real transaction rooms at BDO Belgium, and he says that technology has a tremendous impact on deal-making, except for one element: the handshake between two people who are convinced they have done the best deal.

How team.blue is rapidly building a European ecosystem for SMB software.

Walk into most post-acquisition integration meetings and you'll hear the same playbook: centralise systems, standardise processes, eliminate redundancies. It's M&A 101, taught in every business school and preached by every consultant.

Technological due diligence is increasingly crucial in M&A deals. How do you separate genuine AI capabilities from marketing spin?

“You have to know where you can add value, know your strengths, and play on your strengths", says Sophie Manigart, professor at Vlerick Business School and one of Europe’s foremost authorities on entrepreneurial finance. This advice has become the survival strategy for private equity in 2025.

In a recent and widely discussed LinkedIn post, Axel Desmedt, President of the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA), reignited debate in the antitrust and M&A communities by calling for the introduction of a ‘call-in power’ in Belgium. Desmedt argues that the country urgently needs a mechanism that allows the authority to review acquisitions that fall below existing merger control thresholds but could still harm competition.

In today's difficult deal environment, private equity's traditional playbook is being rewritten as they are required to become more hands-on and adopt EBITDA-enhancing policies, including pricing strategies.

From a modest Belgian startup to a fast-scaling European tech player, Dstny is transforming how small and mid-sized businesses communicate in an increasingly digital, AI-driven world. In this in-depth conversation, CEO and co-founder Daan De Wever shares how strategic acquisitions, a bold shift to software, and a clear focus on AI innovation are shaping the company’s future.

In a period marked by bold moves and decisive strategy, What’s Cooking Group has reshaped its business with two major transactions that signal a clear shift in direction. The sale of its long-standing savoury (charcuterie) division and the acquisition of French ready-meal producer Sveltic mark the company’s exit from a consolidating and challenging meat market in favor of a high-potential growth segment: ready meals.

The evolving M&A Insurance industry is increasingly capable to provide added value to the processes. In a conversation with Bernard Poncin and Paul Schouten from Aon’s Belgian M&A team, we explore how these highly specialized insurance products are helping buyers and sellers manage uncertainty, protect value, and accelerate deal timelines.

Syntagma Capital’s Fabio Yamasaki reveals how disciplined carve-out strategies are redefining M&A success in uncertain times.

According to INSEAD and Vlerick Business School professor, Hans Vanoorbeek, knowing what kind of vehicle you’re operating is vital to the success of mergers and acquisitions. “In private equity, you're either riding a motorbike or manoeuvring a truck – two very different vehicles requiring very different skills.”

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are often driven by strategic growth ambitions, cost synergies, and market expansion. However, while financials and operations are scrutinized extensively, cultural integration frequently remains an afterthought. This oversight can result in failed deals, high turnover rates, and diminished value creation. To understand why culture is often overlooked and how dealmakers can better manage it, we spoke with Koen van Gulck, an expert in M&A culture integration.

After years of slowdown, Belgium’s M&A scene is heating up again – with competitive auctions, large deals, and cross-border investors returning in force. But this isn’t just a rebound; it’s a reshaped market where Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) insurance, once rare, is now a must-have tool for getting deals done in Belgium. Here's what it means for buyers, sellers, and investors navigating today’s complex landscape.

Niek Kolkman and Bart Veenman, M&A and AI-experts at KPMG Netherlands, delve into the various ways in which AI is currently reshaping deal processes. The gains in efficiency and insights are remarkable, but the continuing involvement of human judgment remains a crucial factor.

M&A Award winner PanTera raised 134 million euros to lead the next generation of cancer therapies.

Insights from PwC Belgium's private equity leaders.

The fastest-capitalised start-up in the country's tech history.

Belgian start-up becomes global leader through harnessing innovative technology.

Under Smile Invest’s ownership, SmartSD experienced significant growth and value creation.

Experts from Eight Advisory share actionable insights on leveraging carve-outs to thrive amid global disruption.

Belgian unicorn Deliverect strengthens its position in FoodTech with the strategic acquisition of Tabesto.

Lack of knowledge among directors can lead to major value destruction in M&A deals and investments.

After the recent Belgian acquisition of Dokeos Limited, Lyvia Group is searching for more Benelux deals.

A conversation with Katrin Geyskens: Pioneering venture capital and embracing innovation.

One of the most transformative changes in the M&A field is the impact of AI and technology.

Carbon Equity co-founders are optimistic in climate technology's future.

An Interview with Veronique Elskens from Robert Half Executive Search.

Proximus Group's vision to dominate the global digital communications market.

The evolving landscape of financing for mergers and acquisitions.

There is little evidence that M&A actually works, says professor Killian McCarthy.

In this exclusive interview, Philippe Craninx delves into the evolving landscape of corporate finance.

In Paul Van Hooghten’s long career, many legal trends have emerged, significantly impacting M&A practices.

How a people-driven approach leads to more value creation within M&A transactions.

A compelling outlook on the anticipated trends and challenges shaping the Belgian M&A sphere for 2024.

With upcoming elections in 2024, the BVA plans to engage policymakers and clarify the role of private equity.

A unique proposition in the Belgian private equity landscape.

Business builders who help entrepreneurs realize their vision: that is the passion of 3d investors.

"If things do not flare up further geopolitically, we are optimistic about 2024."

Highlights from the Trend Survey 2024 by M&A and Ansarada.

Fortino Capital’s Renaat Berckmoes and Steven de De Troyer unfold M&A trends and challenges, while highlighting the importance of prioritising growth.

MandA.be discusses the most important M&A trends at the moment with Koen Clukkers & Sebastiaan Preckler from Deloitte Belgium.

Growth Inc. managing partner and economist Peter De Keyzer explains how rising political tensions across the world has resulted in investors turning their eyes toward protectionism and security when looking at deals in Europe.

Tips for increasing success in business integrations.

Nancy De Beule & Véronique Gillis from PwC are looking back and ahead.

ESG and Technical M&A specialist Dominique Ranson unpacks how non-enterprise risks have developed over the years, and what some of the biggest challenges are that the industry currently faces.

With a takeover announcement, the stock market effects of the targets typically increase by 20 to 30 percent.

At the M&A Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award was granted for the very first time. The honour fell to Jos Peeters, founder of Capricorn Partners. Everyone who learns about his efforts and accomplishments, both at a corporate level and across the wider sector of venture capital, will confirm this is a well-deserved recognition. We caught up with him for an insightful conversation.

With a pioneering approach to agricultural sustainability, Aphea.Bio succeeded in raising 70 million euro this year in a series C financing round. This represents the largest investment round in a Belgian scale up in 2023, and even the largest one in Europe. Isabel Vercauteren, Aphea.Bio’s co-founder and CEO talked to us about the transaction, which generated a particular interest by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

A conversation with Ruben Gofflo, M&A Director of Cegeka.

Although Keyrock operates in a highly volatile sector, the cryptocurrency market maker has been recording a stable growth since its inception in 2017. To raise the funds it requires to continue that boom, the Belgian company recently opted for a new round of funding. It raised 72 million dollar and promptly won ‘Best Venture Capital Deal - Technology 2023’ at the M&A Awards. “Once all markets are digital, we want to be one of the largest financial institutions in the world.”

In more and more acquisitions, sustainability is considered a pillar of value creation.

A conversation with the new Community Manager of the Belgian M&A Community.

Marc van Herreweghe, CEO of Mydibel, on one of the biggest Flemish deals of 2022.

Hans Swinnen and Koen Haenen from 3d investors talk about their ambition to further expand in the Benelux.

It became a true thriller, starting with a hostile takeover bid that evolved into a sales deal worth 656 million euros. Belgian company Recticel won the M&A Award for Best Large Cap Corporate Deal 2022 for the sale of its Engineered Foams division to the American Carpenter. How does Recticel look back on this, and what are the points on the agenda for the 'new Recticel'? CEO Olivier Chapelle tells us.

The secrets to Rika Coppens' expansion strategy, CEO of House of HR: "We strongly emphasize ownership."

Private equity firm that enables companies to innovate and grow sustainably. Richard Reis, Partner at the pan-European investment fund Argos Wityu, explains.

The fastest-growing Belgian ghost kitchen chain can further expand its expansion through a Series A round by Dutch Slingshot Ventures.

Barely three and a half years on the road, and already a company valuation of 1.4 billion dollars: scale-up Deliverect announces today the completion of a 150 million dollar Series D funding round, officially reaching Unicorn status.

The winner of the Best Mid Cap Corporate Deal 2021 at the Belgian M&A Awards has big plans.

A glimpse into the kitchen at Ahold Delhaize, with Frans Muller, a CEO who also enjoys stirring the pots himself.