Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to create a Dealmaker profile?

By creating your Dealmaker profile, you ensure that your involvement in M&A Dealmaking is visible for all users of the Dealmaker database. Your profile information is the basis to showcase your track record and provides valuable insights and information for all users. When adding a Deal to the Dealmaker database you can select Dealmaker profiles to build overviews of the Advisory teams.

A Dealmaker profile can be connected to an M&A and/or Dealmaker account. By linking the profile and the account, you can edit your profile at any time.

Can I edit a Company profile?

Company profiles can be edited by users with an M&A and/or Dealmaker account. Please contact our deal team to get your account connected to a Company profile. Multiple accounts can be connected to one Company profile.

What is meant by M&A expertise?

Each Dealmaker profile shows the M&A expertise of the Dealmaker. M&A expertise refers to a specific area of expertise or function, for example Financial Due Diligence, M&A Advisory, Legal Advisory or Restructuring. A Dealmaker can have more than one M&A expertise. The same goes for Companies with M&A expertise.

What is meant by Industry expertise?

Many Dealmakers have developed specific Industry knowledge and expertise that makes them a favorable M&A professional for businesses in that Industry. You can select your Industry expertise and add it to your Dealmaker profile. By doing so you ensure that your name is listed in Industry specific overviews of Dealmakers. The same goes for Companies with a special Industry expertise.

What is meant by Company industry?

Each Company can add their Company industry, which classifies what their primary business activities are.

Acquisition: The purchase of one business or company by another company or other business entity.
Participation: Involves providing capital or resources in exchange for a financial interest or ownership stake in a company. The investor contributes funds, but they may not have full control or majority ownership of the entity in which they invest. The investment may take the form of equity, debt, or other financial instruments and the party will have an active involvement in the company.
Joint Venture: A business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance.
Merger: An agreement that unites two existing companies into one new company. With a merger we generally see two Buyers and one Target being the new company.
Investment: An investment involves providing capital or resources in exchange for a financial interest or ownership stake in a company. The investor contributes funds, but they may not have full control or majority ownership of the entity in which they invest. The investment may take the form of equity, debt, or other financial instruments.
Divestment: Divestment refers to the process of disposing of or reducing ownership in a business or investment. It involves selling, liquidating, or otherwise exiting from a particular investment or business interest.
IPO: An IPO (Initial Public Offering) is the process by which a private company offers its shares to the public for the first time, enabling it to raise capital and become a publicly traded entity.
FPO: An FPO (Follow-on Public Offering) is a secondary offering of shares made by a publicly traded company to raise additional capital from the public after its initial public offering (IPO).
Delisting: Is to the removal of a company's shares from a stock exchange, making them no longer available for trading by the general public on that particular exchange as a result of for example a merger, acquisition, or privatization.
Partition: A partition or split-up is a corporate action in which a single company splits into two or more independent, separately run companies. Upon the completion of such events, shares of the original company may be exchanged for shares in one of the new entities at the discretion of shareholders
MBO: An MBO (Management Buy Out) is a transaction where someone from corporate management or the team purchases the business from the current owner(s).
MBI: An MBI (Management Buy In) is a transaction in which an outside manager or management team purchases a controlling ownership stake in an outside company and replaces its existing management team.

How do I add a Deal in the Dealmakerdata.be database?

Adding a Deal to the Dealmakerdata.be database starts with clicking the + Add Deal button in the top right corner of the menu. This will open a smart form that will take you through a list of questions about the type and structure of the Deal, the parties involved, the Advisory teams and the value and timeline of the Deal.

What is meant by the Party Financer?

You can select a Financer in case the Buying company used external financing to finance the transaction. For example, in the case of a Leveraged Finance Deal. Just like the Seller, Target and Buyer a Financer can have an Advising Team to assist with the transaction.

What is meant by the Country of origin?

By Country of origin, we mean the country in which the Company was originally founded. For example, Fiat is founded in Italy so it’s country of origin is Italy. Ikea is Headquartered in the Netherlands but was founded in Sweden. So, the country of origin is Sweden.

How do I use the Lead Company checkbox?

If you register an Advisory team for a Deal, you could indicate if the Advisory team had a leading role in the Dealmaking process. An Advising team has a leading role if they are involved as the primary adviser for the M&A expertise concerned. If this is the case, please select the checkbox for Lead Company. This has an implication for the League Table ranking of the Company and the Dealmakers involved.

What is meant by level of involvement?

The Dealmakers that are part of an Advisory team will be ranked according to their level of involvement.The level of involvement for an individual Dealmaker is based on the seniority of their role in the Advisory Team divided into three levels:

• Team leader: Leader advising team
• Level 1: MD, partner(s), head of M&A
• Level 2: Director, Senior advisor(s), associate, legal counsel, etc.
• Level 3: Junior advisor(s), analysts, etc.

How do I register the Deal value of a Deal?

There are several ways to register the Deal value of a specific Deal. Firstly, and preferably you register the exact amount of the transaction. If this exact amount is unknown or if it cannot be disclosed, you can choose from a series of value ranges to indicate the Deal value. If no information about the deal value can be shared, you can indicate that it is undisclosed. We do ask you to indicate if the Deal value exceeds the amount of €5 million. Please note that only Deals > €5 million count for the M&A League Tables.

How do I use the % sold field?

The % sold field indicates the absolute percentage of the shares that have been acquired by the Buyer(s). This percentage can be further divided over the Buyers. For example: a total of 80% of the Share of the Target are sold. Buyer one acquired 60% and Buyer two acquired 20%.

What is meant by Deal structure?

The specification of which financial structure(s) are used to fund the deal. A maximum of 2 options can be selected.

What is meant by Deal funding?

The specification of which financial resources are used to fund the deal. For example, a Cash transaction and/or a bank loan. A maximum of 2 options can be selected.

How do I determine the announcement date?

Deals qualify for inclusion in the League Tables from the date of:

• the announcement of signing of a definitive/binding agreement if the deal is private; or
• the announcement of a formal offer for a publicly listed company, where the offer is made to the shareholders of the target company.

The announcement dates will not be amended upon the disclosure of full deal terms or signing of a definitive agreement at a later date.

Deals will be listed in the Deal database and League Tables according to the order of their announcement date under a and b. The date of bids, closing, completion or withdrawal will be registered, in so far as they are known. The date of indicative offers, letters of intent, memorandums of understanding, heads of agreement and non-binding agreements are not registered in the Deal database.

How do I determine the completion date?

A deal is considered completed when the parties involved sign a legally binding agreement known as the "closing documents." These documents formalize the terms and conditions of the deal and are signed after the necessary approvals and conditions have been satisfied.

What is meant by Applicable Law?

Applicable law refers to the jurisdiction or the set of country specific laws and regulations that govern the legal issue of the Deal. For example, the Deal is done under Dutch Law or under British Law.

What is the minimum information required for a deal description?

Fill in a brief description of the deal, the buyer(s), seller(s) and target(s) involved and the deal rationale.

How do I add a Merger to the Dealmaker database?

The companies who will merge will have to be submitted as buyers. The Newco will have to be submitted as a Target. If the name of the Newco is not yet known, the merger can be named Company A Company B.

How do I add a Joint Venture to the Dealmaker database?

The companies who will set up the joint venture will have to be submitted as buyers. The new Joint Venture entity will have to be submitted as a Target.

How do I add an IPO or FPO to the Dealmaker database?

The Parties involved in an IPO are:
Target: The current company
Seller: The previous owner(s)
Financer: the underwriter(s) and other financers

How are the M&A League Tables determined?

The ranking in the M&A League Tables is determined by the number and value of deals that each Dealmaker or Company is involved in. You can find a more detailed overview of the M&A deal criteria here.

For more information regarding Dealmakerdata.be, deal inclusion criteria, deal valuations, research methodology and league table credits, or to submit information for inclusion in the Dealmakerdata.be database, please contact the Dealmakerdata.be deal team:

Phone: +31 (0)20 246 7000

Email: deals@sijthoffmedia.nl