Industry and manufacturing is a core sector for Maasdael, in which we are structurally active. We guide medium-sized SME enterprises, often family businesses, ranging from industrial suppliers to manufacturing companies with their own end product. These are typically businesses facing that exact choice: to specialize further or to scale up.

What distinguishes this sector is its capital intensity. Investments in machinery, automation, and sustainability put pressure on short-term cash flow, while they are precisely what determine long-term potential. For valuation, this is the most challenging point: anyone presenting these investments solely as an expense leaves value on the table, and anyone presenting them too optimistically loses credibility. Financiers also look closely at the asset base, the stability of cash flow, and the cyclical nature of the business. Uncertainty over energy prices sometimes makes their outlook on this sector conservative. Customer concentration and dependency on the majority shareholder (DGA) or a few key individuals also weigh in, particularly in a sale. These are not dealbreakers, but negotiation points, and it is therefore wise to bring them to the table at an early stage.

Our sector knowledge translates into tangible advantages. We know which strategic and financial parties are active and what they select for: scale, automation, and a clear niche position. We help position the company so that capex, energy, capacity, and dependencies become part of the story rather than a problem halfway through the process. And because financing in this sector is often just as decisive as the transaction itself, we bring both together: a structure that leaves room for the investments that still need to be made after the deal. This way, an entrepreneur enters the discussion with a realistic perception of value and a strong negotiating position.