Marktlink, an independent fast-growing international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm, has chosen Manchester as the home of its UK HQ as it continues its ambitious international expansion.
The new HQ is the ninth office in the Marktlink network and will bring several job opportunities to the region. It is anticipated that the establishment of the Manchester office will be a springboard to other offices opening across different regions in the coming years as the business embarks on its growth journey in the UK.
Established in 1996 with its head office in Amsterdam, the company provides expert advice to entrepreneurs and SMEs on M&A transactions, representing both buyers and sellers, and now operates across a network of nine regional office hubs. The operation, though historically centered in the Benelux region, has recently expanded rapidly to Germany and Scandinavia. Marktlink’s ‘sustainable’ growth is underpinned by personal relationships and detailed local knowledge of different corporate cultures and expectations.
Deals typically range from €5-€150 million in enterprise value and number over 120 annually with a 95 per cent deal success rate once mandates have been accepted.
“Manchester was the natural choice for our UK HQ as there are many medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs that we can support in the city and surrounding region that are currently underserved by professional M&A advisers with a true international mindset and network. It is a really exciting time to join the company and a great opportunity to assemble a best-in-class M&A boutique offering” explains Jonathon Parkinson, managing partner at Marktlink UK.
“Throughout the business we have up-to-date knowledge across all sectors and have delivered 120 deals annually, a figure which is expected to rise to 150 this year across our 40 deal teams throughout Europe. We have a selective non-volume driven approach which is guided by our corporate values of developing personal relationships and having a detailed and meaningful understanding of the businesses and entrepreneurs that we are working with and their regional markets.
“We are already working on a number of deals here in the UK where there is significant appetite from major European corporates in the Marktlink network to acquire UK businesses. We are building our UK team immediately as we develop our organic deals pipeline over the coming months. Our aim is to complete 5-10 deals with £2m-£100m revenue level organisations by the end of the year and to recruit ahead of demand with up to half a dozen people in position within the launch phase,” added the former director of an international M&A firm.
Commenting on the establishment of the UK office, Tim van der Meer, managing partner at Marktlink Netherlands added: “The establishment of the Manchester HQ is a significant milestone for Marktlink and marks a real opportunity for our business to serve the thriving UK M&A market.
“The acquisition or sale of a company is one of the most important moments in an entrepreneur’s career. By opening our first UK office, we not only give business owners access to an even bigger buyer and sellers’ market, but also to the experience gained in more than 120 deals annually closed by our 40 deal teams throughout Europe.
“With Jonathon leading the UK rollout, we are confident that his local expertise and vast understanding of the industry, will be instrumental in the success of Marktlink’s presence in the UK with many more opportunities arising for expansion in the months and years to come.”
The company will be taking office space on King Street in the city centre in the short term, before establishing a permanent base following its first few months of operation.
Marktlink is the fastest growing M&A boutique operator in Europe and intends to have offices operating in ten European countries by 2025.
