- ABG Sundal Collier is acquiring Danish M&A advisory firm FIH Partners and merging it with its existing Danish operations under the ABGSC brand in Copenhagen.
- The deal includes DKK 50 million upfront in cash and shares, plus up to DKK 150 million in performance-based earn-outs over four years tied to profitability.
- FIH Partners brings a strong mid- to large-cap advisory track record, having completed over 200 transactions totaling more than EUR 100 billion.
- The combination is expected to create synergies across M&A, ECM, and DCM, be earnings accretive from 2026, and strengthen ABGSC’s competitive position in the Nordic investment banking market.
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The acquisition of FIH Partners by ABG Sundal Collier represents a strategically sound move to consolidate market position in Denmark. FIH Partners brings a strong reputation in mid- to large-size advisory mandates, having executed over 200 transactions with a cumulative value exceeding EUR 100 billion [1].
Economically, the payment structure—DKK 50 million upfront, plus up to DKK 150 million additional, contingent on performance over four years—aligns incentives and mitigates risk for ABGSC. This ensures that any premium paid is justified by actual contributions to profitability [1].
Operationally, the merger of ABGSC’s existing Danish operations with FIH Partners under the ABGSC brand, centralized in Copenhagen, promises synergies in advisory, equity capital markets (ECM), and debt capital markets (DCM) services. Leadership continuity via co-heads helps preserve client relationships and internal stability during integration [1][2].
From a financial perspective, the deal is expected to be accretive to ABGSC’s earnings from 2026 onwards, supporting its revenue growth and margin improvement targets across its Nordic operations. This positions ABGSC to better compete with global investment banks in the region [1][2].
Potential risks include the difficulty of integrating different firm cultures, maintaining performance to trigger earn-outs, and regulatory or market headwinds affecting advisory volumes, especially in ECM and M&A. The success will depend on execution in client retention, cost discipline, and alignment of service offerings.
Strategically, this acquisition supports a broader trend of regional consolidation in financial services, especially in the Nordics. By building a Denmark-based platform with combined expertise, ABGSC can scale in a market where local presence and relationships are often critical. If successful, this could serve as a model for further expansion in other Nordic markets.
Supporting Notes
- ABGSC will acquire FIH Partners and merge its Danish arm with FIH under the ABGSC brand, operating from FIH’s Copenhagen headquarters [1][2].
- Upfront consideration of DKK 50 million, payable in cash and shares, with additional performance-based payments up to DKK 150 million over four years tied to profitability [1][2].
- The combined team will offer services in strategic advisory, M&A, ECM, and DCM, jointly co-headed by Thomas Lindquist, Jørgen Overholt Hansen, and Peter Brandenborg [1][2].
- ABGSC expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings starting in 2026, aligned with its goal to grow revenues and improve margins in the Nordic investment banking sector [1][2].
- FIH Partners has delivered over 200 transactions since 2006, totaling more than EUR 100 billion in value, positioning it as a preferred alternative to global banks in Denmark [1].
- Both parties described the cultural fit and long-term trust with clients as strong; ABGSC emphasized FIH Partners’ deep client relationships and sector expertise [1][2].
Sources
- [1] news.cision.com (ABG Sundal Collier / Cision) — Tue, Dec 09, 2025 08:00 CET
- [2] www.privatebankerinternational.com (Private Banker International) — Dec 09, 2025