From Scale-Up to IPO: Capital for the next phase of growth
Oaklins Equity & ECM Advisory supports companies seeking capital at virtually every stage of their lifecycle, from scale-up through to becoming a successful listed company. Oaklins' international presence provides access to a large and diverse investor base, including for funding rounds of a size where few Dutch VC investors are active.
Oaklins Equity & ECM Advisory helps scale-ups raise the capital they need to expand. It can then continue to add value in the run-up to an IPO, throughout the IPO process and following a potential listing. "We want to grow alongside innovative companies", says Jan-Willem de Groot, Partner of the Equity & ECM team. "We focus on companies in the scale-up phase, because this is where our knowledge and expertise can add the greatest value."
Oaklins advises companies on private funding rounds, including Series A and Series B rounds. In the pre-IPO phase, the Equity & ECM Advisory team helps companies meet listing requirements and select a syndicate of banks with complementary strengths. Once a company is listed, Oaklins' services also include advising on follow-on offerings and block trades.
We want to grow alongside innovative companies.Jan-Willem de Groot, Partner Equity & ECM Advisory.
A large and diverse investor network
The private capital rounds advised on by Oaklins typically range from €10 million to €50 million. Its strong access to venture capital in the United States also makes investments exceeding €50 million possible. These are investment sizes at which few Dutch VC firms are active. Through its established and extensive network of offices in the United States, Oaklins gives clients access to capital from American VC investors.
Oaklins recently refined its Equity & ECM strategy and expanded the team to place greater emphasis on private funding rounds. These rounds can pave the way for a future IPO, a process on which Oaklins is also keen to advise. For the Oaklins Equity & ECM team, it is essential to have confidence in the proposition it presents to investors.
De Groot explains: "We want to know the company seeking capital inside out, and we assess it from an investor's perspective. We have a large and diverse network of investors, ranging from VC firms and family offices to high-net-worth individuals. We know them well too. We understand what they want to invest in, how they weigh up opportunities and what may be too risky for one investor but not for another. Our aim is to present them with the right proposition."
Truly independent advice
One of Oaklins' key differentiators is its independence. "We are among the largest independent corporate finance firm in the Netherlands. We do not finance companies or perform audits, so we are not influenced by any other interests that might arise from those activities. This enables us to provide companies with truly independent advice", says Jan-Willem De Groot.
The value of an international network
Oaklins' global presence is another important differentiator. The corporate finance advisor has offices in key business centers across more than 40 countries. This enables Oaklins to approach investors beyond the Netherlands. Existing relationships often make it easier to establish contact, while its international offices also provide in-depth knowledge of local markets. "The United States is the holy grail. It has the largest pool of venture capital, and many US VC firms are based in Silicon Valley and cities such as New York. However, a US investor may receive between 25 and 50 propositions a week. They review each opportunity briefly and decide quickly whether it is of interest. Standing out as a Dutch scale-up can therefore be challenging", says De Groot. "If our US colleagues know the investor personally and can pick up the phone to provide further context, this often opens the door. The investor is then more likely to engage in a more detailed conversation with the company's management." European VC firms are largely based in cities such as London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Paris. Here too, Oaklins can often provide valuable access.
De Groot points out that Oaklins has both equity and debt specialists in-house and advises on both forms of capital. "The best solution to a company's funding needs may be a combination of equity and debt. In that case, we structure the financing accordingly."
A maturing venture capital market
Looking at the private capital market, De Groot has seen a steady increase in the number of venture capital firms in recent years. De Groot says: "This is a clear trend. The market has matured."
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