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

Universal Music Group NV / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>In this edition: • ABN Amro | to present new medium-term strategy and targets at today’s CMD • Universal Music Group | EU sends statement of objections over proposed Downtown acquisition • Black Friday sales | somewhat muted start of Black Friday week • bpostgroup | Belgium to introduce EUR 2 per item levy on non-EU parcels</li></ul>

In this edition: • ABN Amro | to present new medium-term strategy and targets at today’s CMD • Universal Music Group | EU sends statement of objections over proposed Downtown acquisition • Black Friday sales | somewhat muted start of Black Friday week • bpostgroup | Belgium to introduce EUR 2 per item levy on non-EU parcels

What's New(s) in Amsterdam - 25 November (ABN Amro | UMG | Black Friday sales | bpostgroup)

<ul><li>In this edition: • Universal Music Group | acquisition of Downtown Music likely to be blocked • Arcadis | enters into new 5-year framework agreement with Shell • PostNL | ACM raises concerns on proposed amendments Postal Act • E-commerce & Logistics | strong increase in peak season parcel volumes expected • Havas | denies being in talks with WPP on a possible takeover</li></ul>

In this edition: • Universal Music Group | acquisition of Downtown Music likely to be blocked • Arcadis | enters into new 5-year framework agreement with Shell • PostNL | ACM raises concerns on proposed amendments Postal Act • E-commerce & Logistics | strong increase in peak season parcel volumes expected • Havas | denies being in talks with WPP on a possible takeover

What's News in Amsterdam - 19 November (UMG | Arcadis | PostNL | Havas | E-commerce & Logistics)

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Currency factors took their toll on AkzoNobel’s 2Q25 results. On a pure organic basis, sales were flat, which was the balance of lower volumes (-/-1%), higher prices (+2%) and a negative mix effect (-/-1%).</li>
<li>Currency factors were -/-5% and in combination with hyperinflation accounting, this resulted in an almost 6% drop in reported revenue.</li>
<li>Adjusted EBITDA was impacted by currency headwinds too. On a reported basis, adj. EBITDA came in at EUR 393m, or EUR 10m lower than the consensus average estimate. </li>
</ul>


Currency factors took their toll on AkzoNobel’s 2Q25 results. On a pure organic basis, sales were flat, which was the balance of lower volumes (-/-1%), higher prices (+2%) and a negative mix effect (-/-1%).
Currency factors were -/-5% and in combination with hyperinflation accounting, this resulted in an almost 6% drop in reported revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA was impacted by currency headwinds too. On a reported basis, adj. EBITDA came in at EUR 393m, or EUR 10m lower than the consensus average estimate. 


Mostly Borrowed Ideas Deep Dives, MBI Deep Dives

MBI Deep Dives

Mostly Borrowed Ideas Deep Dives

MBI is the abbreviation for “Mostly Borrowed Ideas”. Why “Mostly Borrowed Ideas?” As a generalist, I do not have a background in any particular sector. I enjoy navigating across industries, businesses, and countries to learn, understand, and connect the dots. In any case, most ideas and innovations are incremental in nature. Very few of us are smart enough to come up with truly original or groundbreaking ideas. I am Abdullah Al-Rezwan. I was born and brought up in Bangladesh. I went to University of Dhaka for my undergrad and majored in Finance. After working three and half years in Equity Research (Sell-side) covering Financial Sector in Bangladesh, I left Bangladesh to pursue my MBA in the US. I graduated within top 10% of the class from Cornell University's two-year MBA program and worked on the buy-side following my graduation. During my time at Cornell, I won two stock pitch competitions and also became finalists in four other competitions. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint as a generalist in the US large cap team at Madison Investments and covered a wide range of companies from UnitedHealth to Amazon and Boeing before US immigration reality paused my career in investment management. As my work authorization expired, I moved to Canada in January, 2021. Then in early 2022, I was able to return to the US.

<ul><li>While music clearly leaves an indelible effect on most of our lives, it has not been easy for capitalism to capture the value created by music.</li><li>In 1999, global recorded music industry generated $22.2 Billion revenue; it took another two decades for the industry to surpass that number!</li><li>Even though revenue in nominal dollars finally exceeded the former peak revenue in 1999 by the end of 2021, on an inflation-adjusted per capita basis consumers today spend almost half of what they used to spend on recorded music in 1999.</li></ul>

While music clearly leaves an indelible effect on most of our lives, it has not been easy for capitalism to capture the value created by music.In 1999, global recorded music industry generated $22.2 Billion revenue; it took another two decades for the industry to surpass that number!Even though revenue in nominal dollars finally exceeded the former peak revenue in 1999 by the end of 2021, on an inflation-adjusted per capita basis consumers today spend almost half of what they used to spend on recorded music in 1999.

Netherlands

Universal Music Group N.V. operates as an entertainment company. The Company produces and distributes music contents. Universal Music Group serves customers worldwide.

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Universal Music Group NV (UMG NA)

What's New(s) in Amsterdam - 25 November (ABN Amro | UMG | Black Friday sales | bpostgroup)

In this edition: • ABN Amro | to present new medium-term strategy and targets at today’s CMD • Universal Music Group | EU sends statement of...

The IDEA!

What's News in Amsterdam - 19 November (UMG | Arcadis | PostNL | Havas | E-commerce & Logistics)

In this edition: • Universal Music Group | acquisition of Downtown Music likely to be blocked • Arcadis | enters into new 5-year framework...

The IDEA!

What's New(s) in Amsterdam

Currency factors were -/-5% and in combination with hyperinflation accounting, this resulted in an almost 6% drop in reported revenue.

The IDEA!

UMG: The Sound of Music

While music clearly leaves an indelible effect on most of our lives, it has not been easy for capitalism to capture the value created by music.

MBI Deep Dives

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