Independent Investment Research, The IDEA!

The IDEA!

Independent Investment Research

The Idea-Driven Equities Analyses company (the IDEA!) is an employee-owned boutique providing independent investment research and financial consultancy services with a clear focus on the Benelux countries. The company was founded in the summer of 2007 by Henk Slotboom and Maarten Verbeek, both with more than 35 years of professional experience in the financial sector. The IDEA! differentiates itself by focusing on adding value through self-initiated in-depth, idea-driven investment research, as well as by bespoke research assignments for institutional investors, hedge funds and private equity. In addition, we provide market intelligence, strategic research and – together with our business partners – consultancy services to businesses. In case you are interested in receiving more information, a sample of our products or an introductory meeting, please send a message to info@theidea.nl.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>In this edition: • Ahold Delhaize | not Jumbo but Everest ended the collaboration • ASML | US House Committee recommends extending export ban to older technologies • bpostgroup / PostNL | Amazon plans to offer same-day delivery in Belgium</li></ul>

In this edition: • Ahold Delhaize | not Jumbo but Everest ended the collaboration • ASML | US House Committee recommends extending export ban to older technologies • bpostgroup / PostNL | Amazon plans to offer same-day delivery in Belgium

What's News in Amsterdam - 9 October (Ahold Delhaize | ASML | bpostgroup / PostNL)

<ul>
<li>EU member states have unanimously backed a Dutch-led proposal to commit tens of billions of euros in future support for the European chip industry, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance.</li>
<li>Outgoing Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans stressed that continued investment is a “pure necessity” to reduce dependence on the US and China and to safeguard Europe’s economic and geopolitical resilience.</li>
<li>The initiative calls for a follow-up to the 2023 EU Chips Act, which mobilized EUR 43bn for semiconductor R&amp;D, start-ups, and manufacturing capacity.</li>
</ul>


EU member states have unanimously backed a Dutch-led proposal to commit tens of billions of euros in future support for the European chip industry, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance.
Outgoing Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans stressed that continued investment is a “pure necessity” to reduce dependence on the US and China and to safeguard Europe’s economic and geopolitical resilience.
The initiative calls for a follow-up to the 2023 EU Chips Act, which mobilized EUR 43bn for semiconductor R&amp;D, start-ups, and manufacturing capacity.


Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

<ul><li>In a bold strategic pivot, Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML has invested €1.3 billion (~$1.5 billion) to lead a €1.7 billion Series C funding round for Mistral AI, a French startup rapidly rising as Europe’s answer to OpenAI.</li><li>This move makes ASML the largest shareholder in Mistral and grants it a board seat—signaling far more than a passive financial stake.</li><li>The deal catapults Mistral to a €10 billion (~$11.7 billion) valuation, the highest for any AI firm in Europe, further solidifying its position as a sovereign AI champion.</li></ul>

In a bold strategic pivot, Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML has invested €1.3 billion (~$1.5 billion) to lead a €1.7 billion Series C funding round for Mistral AI, a French startup rapidly rising as Europe’s answer to OpenAI.This move makes ASML the largest shareholder in Mistral and grants it a board seat—signaling far more than a passive financial stake.The deal catapults Mistral to a €10 billion (~$11.7 billion) valuation, the highest for any AI firm in Europe, further solidifying its position as a sovereign AI champion.

ASML's $1.5 Billion AI Gamble: Will Mistral AI Transform Europe's Tech Future?

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>ASML has been underperforming for 18 months. Recent downgrades are a delayed recognition of reality. ASML’s management goals for 2030 (10% revenue growth Cagr) are ok (plausible) </li>
<li>But growth is slowing fast in 2H25-1H26. Growth should re-accelerate in 2H26 as the impact of China and  Mature node lower spending, multiple delays (Intel, Samsung) is fading away. </li>
<li>The stock is getting cheaper, but lacks catalysts for another 2-3 quarters. Trading at 25x forward PEx, that’s reasonable given the firm’s intrinsic qualities.</li>
</ul>


ASML has been underperforming for 18 months. Recent downgrades are a delayed recognition of reality. ASML’s management goals for 2030 (10% revenue growth Cagr) are ok (plausible) 
But growth is slowing fast in 2H25-1H26. Growth should re-accelerate in 2H26 as the impact of China and  Mature node lower spending, multiple delays (Intel, Samsung) is fading away. 
The stock is getting cheaper, but lacks catalysts for another 2-3 quarters. Trading at 25x forward PEx, that’s reasonable given the firm’s intrinsic qualities.


ASML Downgrades, Semi Production Equipment Demand

BE Semiconductor Industries NV / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>In this edition: • ASM International – ASML Holding – BE Semiconductor Industries | WSTS revises its outlook for worldwide semiconductor market strongly upward • Magnum Ice Cream Company | more details on upcoming listing • PostNL / Ahold Delhaize | EUR 2 levy on non-EU parcels effective as of 1 January 2026</li></ul>

In this edition: • ASM International – ASML Holding – BE Semiconductor Industries | WSTS revises its outlook for worldwide semiconductor market strongly upward • Magnum Ice Cream Company | more details on upcoming listing • PostNL / Ahold Delhaize | EUR 2 levy on non-EU parcels effective as of 1 January 2026

What's New(s) in Amsterdam - 4 December (ASM Int'l | ASML | Besi | MICC | PostNL/Ahold Delhaize)

Netherlands

ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, and markets semiconductor manufacturing equipment, specifically machines for the production of chips through lithography. The Company services clients worldwide.

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ASML Holding NV (ASML US)

What's News in Amsterdam - 9 October (Ahold Delhaize | ASML | bpostgroup / PostNL)

In this edition: • Ahold Delhaize | not Jumbo but Everest ended the collaboration • ASML | US House Committee recommends extending export ban to...

The IDEA!

What's News in Amsterdam

EU member states have unanimously backed a Dutch-led proposal to commit tens of billions of euros in future support for the European chip industry,...

The IDEA!

ASML's $1.5 Billion AI Gamble: Will Mistral AI Transform Europe's Tech Future?

In a bold strategic pivot, Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML has invested €1.3 billion (~$1.5 billion) to lead a €1.7 billion Series C...

Baptista Research

ASML Downgrades, Semi Production Equipment Demand

ASML's underperformance is a delayed reality check, but management's 2030 goals are plausible. Growth is slowing but will re-accelerate in 2H26....

Nicolas Baratte

What's New(s) in Amsterdam - 4 December (ASM Int'l | ASML | Besi | MICC | PostNL/Ahold Delhaize)

In this edition: • ASM International – ASML Holding – BE Semiconductor Industries | WSTS revises its outlook for worldwide semiconductor market...

The IDEA!

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What's News in Amsterdam - 9 October (Ahold Delhaize | ASML | bpostgroup / PostNL)

In this edition: • Ahold Delhaize | not Jumbo but Everest ended the collaboration • ASML | US House Committee recommends extending export ban to...

The IDEA!

What's News in Amsterdam

EU member states have unanimously backed a Dutch-led proposal to commit tens of billions of euros in future support for the European chip industry,...

The IDEA!

ASML's $1.5 Billion AI Gamble: Will Mistral AI Transform Europe's Tech Future?

In a bold strategic pivot, Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML has invested €1.3 billion (~$1.5 billion) to lead a €1.7 billion Series C...

Baptista Research

ASML Downgrades, Semi Production Equipment Demand

​ASML's underperformance is a delayed reality check, but management's 2030 goals are plausible. Growth is slowing but will re-accelerate in 2H26....

Nicolas Baratte

What's New(s) in Amsterdam - 4 December (ASM Int'l | ASML | Besi | MICC | PostNL/Ahold Delhaize)

In this edition: • ASM International – ASML Holding – BE Semiconductor Industries | WSTS revises its outlook for worldwide semiconductor market...

The IDEA!

ASML's underperformance is a delayed reality check, but management's 2030 goals are plausible. Growth is slowing but will re-accelerate in 2H26....