Direct answer: Corvian Advisory provides sell-side, buy-side, financial due diligence, and exit planning across the Eurozone, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Austria and Spain. We specialise in the UAE–Europe cross-border corridor, bridging Eurozone sellers and buyers with UAE sovereign wealth funds, family offices and strategic acquirers. Minimum deal size: EUR 1.5M (~AED 5.9M). EU FDI screening, GDPR-compliant data rooms and IFRS/local GAAP due diligence are standard across all mandates.
Six core services built for the commercial and regulatory realities of Eurozone M&A, from German Mittelstand succession exits to UAE sovereign investment in European technology and infrastructure.
End-to-end sale process management for European business owners targeting strategic buyers, PE firms and UAE/GCC acquirers. We prepare the vendor IM, run a structured process, and manage buyer Q&A through SPA execution. Particular expertise in succession-driven Mittelstand exits.
We act for UAE and GCC strategic buyers, family offices and sovereign entities acquiring European businesses, target identification, off-market outreach, preliminary valuation, and deal structuring (Dutch BV, Luxembourg SARL, or local subsidiary).
Buy-side FDD under IFRS and/or local GAAP (HGB, Dutch GAAP/IFRS, PCG). QoE, normalised EBITDA, working capital, net debt, pension obligations (German Mittelstand), deferred revenue and customer concentration. GDPR compliance embedded in our process.
Strategic pre-sale advisory for Eurozone owners and GCC investors, regulatory requirements, holding structure options, and cross-border M&A mechanics, with EU merger control and GDPR compliance built in.
Specialist structuring for UAE–Eurozone transactions: Dutch BV/Luxembourg SARL/Cyprus Ltd holding structures, dividend withholding optimisation, EU FDI screening strategy, GDPR SCC compliance, and UAE CT implications of European income.
Under EU Regulation 2019/452, member states screen non-EU FDI in sensitive sectors, Germany's BMWK, France's MINEFI, Netherlands' Wet vifo. We assess screening risk early and coordinate with local regulatory counsel to avoid closing delays.
Most European M&A advisers lack deep UAE market access. Most UAE advisers lack European regulatory expertise. Corvian sits at the intersection, with dual-market knowledge, a GCC buyer network and IFRS-trained transaction teams.
Succession-driven exits from family-owned Mittelstand companies (EUR 10M–500M revenue). HGB accounting, pension provisions, and family governance complexity, we handle all of it.
Netherlands participation exemption and treaty network make Dutch BV the preferred holdco for UAE buyers of European assets. We advise on substance, governance and ATAD compliance.
Personal data transfers during due diligence require SCCs for UAE counterparties. We configure GDPR-compliant data rooms and advise on data minimisation strategies from day one.
No single EU CIT rate, Germany ~30%, Netherlands 25.8%, France 25%, Ireland 12.5%. Multi-jurisdiction tax analysis is essential; we coordinate with local tax counsel in each member state.
Established relationships with UAE sovereign wealth funds, Abu Dhabi and Dubai family offices, and GCC strategic corporates actively seeking European acquisitions in technology, manufacturing and healthcare.
German Mittelstand defined benefit pension obligations are a critical FDD item. We model pension provisions, actuarial assumptions and cash flow implications for acquirer pricing models.
The Eurozone M&A market is evolving against high interest rates normalising, rising energy costs, and structural challenges for traditional manufacturing. Deal volumes in technology, healthcare, clean energy and business services remain robust, particularly mid-market below EUR 100M.
The German Mittelstand, the backbone of Europe's industrial economy, is experiencing a generational shift. Over 125,000 German businesses are seeking succession solutions, creating a sustained pipeline of quality businesses at fair valuations for UAE investors.
ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ and the Abu Dhabi/Dubai family office community represent hundreds of billions of euros in global AUM, with Europe a growing share. UAE investors favour deep tech, semiconductors, clean energy, healthcare/pharma, and established industrial brands. The Netherlands is the preferred entry jurisdiction.
Since October 2020, EU Regulation 2019/452 created a cooperation framework. Germany screened 571 transactions in 2023 (BMWK); France's MINEFI reviews ~150–200/year; Netherlands launched Wet vifo June 2023. UAE investors in non-sensitive mid-market sectors typically pass screening within 2–3 months.
| Sector | EV/EBITDA | Key Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Technology / SaaS | 12–28× | ARR growth, NRR, churn |
| Healthcare / Life Sciences | 10–20× | Regulatory moats, recurring revenue |
| Industrial / Mittelstand | 7–14× | Market niche, IP, export share |
| Clean Energy / Renewables | 10–18× | EU Green Deal tailwinds, contracted revenue |
| Business Services | 7–13× | Customer retention, staff scalability |
| Consumer Goods / Luxury | 8–16× | Brand equity, distribution |
| Logistics / Supply Chain | 6–11× | Network density, tech integration |
| Financial Services | 8–14× | AUM/loan book, regulatory licence |
Corporate tax rates vary: Germany ~30% (CIT + trade tax), Netherlands 25.8%, France 25%, Ireland 12.5%, Belgium 25%. No unified EU CIT. EU Merger Regulation applies above EUR 5B combined global turnover + EUR 250M EU turnover. GDPR SCCs required for personal data transfers to UAE entities during diligence.
Business valuation is a separate discipline from M&A advisory. Our dedicated Eurozone Business Valuation page covers the full range of independent valuation services with EUR pricing, IFRS/local GAAP methodology, and EU regulatory context.
CFA-led, IVS-compliant business valuations for Eurozone companies. IFRS and local GAAP (HGB, Dutch GAAP, PCG) bridge included. Fixed-fee. Delivered in 2–4 weeks.
A structured five-stage process designed for the regulatory complexity of Eurozone M&A, with EU FDI screening, GDPR compliance and cross-border structuring built into every stage.
Agree mandate scope and fee. IFRS/local GAAP financial baseline. Normalise EBITDA. Assess EU FDI screening risk and sector classification.
Prepare Vendor IM or buyer brief. GDPR-compliant VDR with SCCs for non-EU transfer. Commence buyer outreach with NDA management.
FDD covering QoE, working capital, net debt, pensions, deferred revenue, customer concentration and IFRS/GAAP adjustments.
Optimal acquisition structure (share/asset deal, Dutch BV, Luxembourg SARL). Lock-box vs completion accounts. SPA negotiation, W&I insurance, FDI notification.
Coordinate signing and regulatory clearances. Post-completion IFRS 3 PPA advisory. Day-one integration support. UAE CT treatment review.
All fees in EUR. Cross-border mandates include AED equivalent. Minimum deal size EUR 1.5M (~AED 5.9M / USD 1.6M).
Financial due diligence and valuation engagements are fixed-fee or capped-fee, agreed upfront. M&A advisory fees are also agreed upfront, in writing, before work begins.
EU FDI screening and regulatory advisory is scoped separately per mandate, complexity varies significantly by member state and sector classification.
All mandates include a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to assess fit and provide a precise fee estimate before any engagement letter is signed.
IFRS and/or local GAAP. QoE analysis, working capital, net debt, pensions, deferred revenue. GDPR-compliant data room. 4–8 weeks.
Fees agreed upfront. Full process management, vendor IM/buyer brief, data room management, negotiation support, SPA coordination. EU FDI screening advisory included where applicable.
Fee structure agreed in writing before work begins. Target identification, EU FDI screening advisory, IFRS/local GAAP FDD, Dutch BV structure advisory, SPA negotiation. Minimum deal EUR 1.5M.
Independent business valuation for Eurozone companies from EUR 5,000. All fees fixed. Contact us for a specific quote.
Cross-border deals into Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the wider Eurozone increasingly trigger EU FDI screening once a Gulf-based acquirer enters the picture — a step generalist advisors often only address once a national authority raises a query. We build FDI screening into the process from the outset, run the transaction senior-led throughout, and agree fees upfront, regardless of deal size.
A Berlin technology business sold to a GCC strategic acquirer, following IFRS/local GAAP normalisation ahead of outreach. Company name withheld.
EU FDI screening and financial due diligence for a UAE family office's acquisition of an Amsterdam distribution business, plus an 18-month exit readiness programme for a Paris industrial group. Deal terms confidential.
Direct answers to what clients ask most often about M&A advisory across the Eurozone and the UAE–Europe cross-border corridor.
"We needed an adviser who understood both our German Mittelstand business and could credibly represent us to UAE and GCC buyers. Corvian did both, their EBITDA normalisation work caught adjustments our local accountants had missed, and their buyer relationships delivered three credible offers."
"The EU FDI screening advisory was invaluable. Corvian correctly assessed that our sector would trigger German BMWK review and prepared us with a pre-notification strategy that took 6 weeks off our timeline. The GDPR data room setup was seamless."
"The Dutch BV holding structure Corvian recommended saved us significant withholding tax on dividends from our French and German subsidiaries. Their understanding of participation exemption rules and ATAD substance requirements made the difference."
Whether you're a European founder planning an exit, or a UAE investor acquiring in Germany, Netherlands or France, we respond within 24 hours with a clear, no-obligation scope and fee.