Independent Investment Research, The IDEA!

The IDEA!

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.

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Netherlands Financials / Thematic (Sector/Industry)

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<li>Artisan Partners’ Global Value Team, a USD 35bn asset manager holding 1.4 million Axalta shares, has come out against the proposed all-stock “merger of equals” between AkzoNobel and Axalta.</li>
<li>The firm argues the deal is poorly timed given Axalta’s strong momentum: 12 consecutive quarters of EBITDA and margin growth, stable net leverage at 2.5×, and significant share repurchases planned, with over 90% of free cash flow targeted for buybacks this year.</li>
<li>In contrast, Artisan highlights Akzo Nobel’s long-term deterioration, citing revenue declines from EUR 14.9bn in 2015 to EUR 7.8 billion YTD 2025 and EPS erosion from EUR 4.02 to EUR 3.07</li>
</ul>


Artisan Partners’ Global Value Team, a USD 35bn asset manager holding 1.4 million Axalta shares, has come out against the proposed all-stock “merger of equals” between AkzoNobel and Axalta.
The firm argues the deal is poorly timed given Axalta’s strong momentum: 12 consecutive quarters of EBITDA and margin growth, stable net leverage at 2.5×, and significant share repurchases planned, with over 90% of free cash flow targeted for buybacks this year.
In contrast, Artisan highlights Akzo Nobel’s long-term deterioration, citing revenue declines from EUR 14.9bn in 2015 to EUR 7.8 billion YTD 2025 and EPS erosion from EUR 4.02 to EUR 3.07


What's News in Amsterdam - 20 November (AkzoNobel | Corbion | Allegro | Consumer confidence)