Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards 2017 Edition

www.finance-monthly.com 21 FINANCE MONTHLY DEAL MAKER AWARDS 2017 MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS FRANK VERBEEK Managing Partner of Drake Star Partners Netherlands One of the largest oil & gas companies in the world, Shell has signed an agreement to buy NewMotion in a deal that will enable both companies to accelerate the transition to low-carbon transport. NewMotion’s shareholders were advised by Drake Star Partners, who acted as their exclusive financial advisor in this transaction. The Drake Star Partners team included Frank Verbeek, Sherief Rahim and Bas Hendriks. Under the terms of the deal, NewMotion will remain focused on accelerating its mission in Europe by delivering more innovative smart-charging solutions to homes, businesses and public parking spaces. The acquisition will help NewMotion enhance its electric vehicle (EV) charging services turning more parking spaces into charging stations as well as improving users’ charging experience across Europe. Commenting on the acquisition, Managing Partner of Drake Star Partners Netherlands, Frank Verbeek said: “As part of the Shell New Energies portfolio, NewMotion has a unique opportunity to expand its services to the level of ambition the founders, shareholders, management and staff worked so hard for. We are proud to have played our role in ensuring Dutch company NewMotion can execute their international strategy.” Mr. Verbeek continued: “We believe that within the mobility segment, EVs will prove to be an extremely dynamic sector with many more companies looking for opportunities. As such, Drake Star Partners is well-positioned to support companies operating in the ever-dynamic EV space along with their growth ambitions.” ADVISOR INTERVIEW Please introduce yourself, your role and your firm. I am the Managing Partner at Drake Star Partners Amsterdam. We have 14 people working here and I have the privilege of leading the team. I’m 59 years old, living in Amsterdam and with over 20 years active in CF-advisory. My role in the NewMotion process was to lead the deal team and negotiate the best possible terms. Drake Star is one of the leading Investment Banking boutiques to service the Technology, Media and Communications sectors. We are true believers in innovations changing the world. Drake Star Partners acted as financial adviser to NewMotion in its acquisition by Shell – what prompted the sale? Huge growth of the market attracts huge companies with huge budgets with favorable starting positions like clients bases, policy-making and market presence. Large amounts of growth capital will help but linking with the best possible strategic partner adds a lot more to create unfair advantages. Can you tell us a bit more about your firm’s involvement in the acquisition? We were leading the process from start to finish and looked after the process’ progress by defining milestones and ensuring that all parties remained committed to these. What was your specific roles? Selecting the candidates for the shortlist, advising on the selection of the one candidate that was granted exclusivity, negotiating all elements related to the defined parts of the overall process, convincing the selling shareholders. What were some of the hurdles that you were faced with? Speed of the process, decision-making on the buyer’s side, deal-making during the holiday season, present cross-border solutions on DD matters. Awarded for his involvement in the following transactions: Drake Star Par tners Advised NewMotion on its Acquisition by Shell FIRM PROFILE DrakeStar Partners is a global investment banking firm serving the technology, media and communications sectors with offices in New York, London, Paris, Munich, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berlin, Amsterdam, Geneva and Tokyo. The firm focuses on M&A and corporate finance for its clients worldwide. Drake Star Partners completed over 300 transactions since 2004, 70% of which are cross-border. CONTACT Email: frank.verbeek@drakestar.com ; sherief.rahim@drakestar.com Phone: +31 (0) 20 792 0006 Q Q Q Q Q