De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek

M&A and Corporate Advisory

Partner (M&A and Corporate Advisory)

Expertise:

Corporate Advisory & Corporate Governance Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity Energy Tech & Digital

Michael specialises in public and private M&A, acting for listed and private companies acquiring new business domestically and abroad, or divesting business. He also advises private equity clients on sellside and buyside processes, including minority investments.

Michael regularly advises listed clients on public takeovers and the role and responsibilities of boards. He is a trusted adviser on corporate governance and disclosure matters.

Michael has particular expertise in the regulated financial and energy sectors. He has advised leading infrastructure investors, state-owned enterprises as well as the Dutch state on large-scale infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

Michael’s recent work includes advising:

TenneT on securing EUR 9.5 billion of equity funding for grid expansion from APG, GIC and NBIM; Aalberts on its public takeover of Singapore-listed Grand Venture Technology; Paulig on the acquisition of Unilever's Conimex brand; Schiphol on its airside retail joint venture with Lagardere; Prodrive Technologies on the minority investment by HAL Investments; Bridgepoint on its minority investment in ACT, valuing ACT at over EUR 1 billion; AkzoNobel on its competing EUR 1.4 billion public offer for Tikkurilla; Boels on its EUR 614 million public offer for Cramo; Silverfleet Capital on the acquisition of Coredux, and the subsequent sale to Arcline; ABN AMRO on the spin-out of its private equity business (Capital A), the secondary sale of related portfolio interests, and the divestment of its shipping investment business, Maas Capital; ASML on the USD 3 billion acquisition of Hermes Microvision through a public offer, and on its investment in Carl Zeiss SMT; Hapag Lloyd on the acquisition of NileDutch; Unilever on its EUR 450 million public offer for its preference shares; Rabobank on the divestment of its investment management business, and the sale of CAIW to EQT; VP Capital on its take private of Batenburg Beheer; and Avedon Capital Partners on the acquisition of various portfolio companies.

Dutch, English, French

Frequently publishes on corporate governance; teaches a corporate governance course at the University of Amsterdam; contributor to the Board Academy

University of Amsterdam (PhD cum laude)

Columbia Law School

Cambridge Universit