Marktlink continues European expansion with UK market entry

Dutch M&A consultancy Marktlink has continued its expansion across Europe with the launch of a new office in Manchester, the United Kingdom.

Marktlink was established in 1996 in the Netherlands and provides merger & acquisition support to companies and entrepreneurs. The firm focuses on the mid-market segment, with transactions ranging from €5 million to €150 million in enterprise value.

From its base in Amsterdam, the firm has previously expanded into Belgium (2019), Germany (2021), Denmark (2021), with the UK now its next stop.

“We aim to become the largest mid-market mergers & acquisitions consultancy of Europe,” said Tom Beltman, managing partner at Marktlink. “Internationalisation is a key trend in the SME segment. In around one third of all our deals we close, we now see the involvement of a cross-border player. We believe this trend will continue in the coming years.”

Tim van der Meer, managing partner at Marktlink, added: “The establishment of our UK office is a significant milestone for the firm and marks a real opportunity for our business to serve the UK’s thriving M&A market.”

According to data from KPMG, the global M&A market is currently smashing all previous records set, on the back of strong deal fundamentals and a growing number of business owners that are now open to cash in on their assets. In terms of deal volume and value, the UK is Europe’s largest M&A market – meaning Marktlink was keen on building a presence in the country.

“By opening our first UK office, we will be able to serve local business owners and provide our existing clients in mainland Europe with access to an even bigger buyer and sellers’ market,” said Van der Meer.

Marktlink has picked Manchester as the base for its first office, with more “office openings across the UK expected in the future” said Beltman.

Jonathon Parkinson, who has been appointed managing partner at Marktlink in the UK, said: “Manchester was the natural choice for our UK headquarter 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.”

He added: “Our aim is to complete five to ten deals with £2 million to £100 million 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.”

“It is a really exciting time to join the company and a great opportunity to assemble a best-in-class M&A boutique offering,” concluded Parkinson.