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Clearwater advises leading SaaS business HCSS Education on sale to Access Group

Clearwater outperforms in 2023 and expects improving conditions and growth in 2024

Clearwater strengthens its foothold in Denmark with the addition of a new Partner

Rob Burden

I’m a Partner at Clearwater and lead the international Business Services team. I’ve been in M&A for nearly 20 years, always focused on advising entrepreneurs, founders and Private Equity clients. Since joining Clearwater in 2014 I’m proud to have delivered deals across the business services sector and have developed specific expertise in the Education and Training market.

Thomas Gaucher

I am one of the founders of Clearwater France and lead our financial services sector, ranging from insurance or credit brokerage (acquisition of Filiassur by Tikehau Capital), to regulated activities (sale of Luxembourg based Life Insurance company One Life to Aviva). I also lead our leisure sub-sector team which has been particularly active working on a number of transactions in sub-sectors such as: hospitality (sale of Morgan Stanley’s Parisian 4 starred Hotel Group to Swisslife); restaurant groups (sale of French Parisian brasseries Frères Blanc to Bertrand); holiday resorts, advising Pierre & Vacances in several deals; and in the camping/caravaning industry, advising leading French companies European Camping Group (ex Homair Vacances) and Vacalians. I started my career with CIC Bank investment, and then joined Lazard M&A and Close Brothers/DC Advisory. In total I have led more than 50 transactions, ranging from raising equity for start-ups, to negotiating deals for institutional groups, and in every case I am proud to help clients reach crucial milestones.

Ralf Hermann

I have dedicated my entire professional career to successful corporate finance projects: M&A on the one hand, and sales of complex commercial property on the other. I have also managed various major corporate restructurings. My projects focus on the property and ancillary construction sectors, the transport and logistics sector, the food sector and industrial companies. As a partner at Clearwater Switzerland, I work on mandates for family-owned companies and listed mid-caps - always with the aim of achieving enthusiastic client feedback. During my professional career, I co-founded the Corporate Finance and M&A division of the Helbling Group, Switzerland's largest independent engineering and management consultancy. Subsequently, I co-founded Zetra International AG, a corporate finance boutique, which over time developed into one of the leading medium-sized M&A firms in Switzerland, with particular strength in complex transactions. I completed my university education at the University of St. Gallen with a Master's degree in Finance and Accounting, followed by a doctorate in Business Administration. I am a hard worker and value deep and often international friendships.

Alexandre Forget

I co-manage Clearwater's activity in the Mediterranean region, alongside Emmanuel Xerri. Following a career in large cap companies in London working for CIBC Capital Markets, I quickly moved into the small and mid-cap segment working for Degroof Petercam, CIC Conseil and then Clairfield International to advise families and shareholders on their strategic considerations. Our goal is to accompany our clients over the long term, by reconciling our technical expertise of the large cap market with tailor-made solutions which meet the specificities and challenges of SMEs. I have advised on more than 30 transactions, including the sale of Markal, a major player in organic food, to FrenchFood Capital, the sale of Laboratoire BioCasamance, a medical analysis laboratory, to Eurofins, the sale of Bio&Co, an organic distribution network, to InVivo, the acquisition of Maxicoffee, a coffee roaster and e-commerce business, by the Daltys group, BPI France and the Qatar sovereign wealth fund’s (QIA) investment in Alstef Group, an Industry 4.0 logistics solutions company, and the refinancing of laser cutting business GL Groupe and PSD, a pharmaceutical group. I am convinced that Clearwater's three-dimensional approach of sector expertise, regional proximity and international footprint is a differentiator for our clients.

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