News

How do economic trends impact the venture capital sector? Why is a strong governance framework essential for startups and investors? And what are the common pitfalls in negotiating deal term sheets? In this interview, Daan Wilms van Kersbergen, VC Investor at The Yield Lab Europe’s Dutch office, shares his insights on the art of successful…

In recent years, various aspects of ESG (environmental, social, governance) have become increasingly important also in deal-making. Firms that incorporate ESG across their M&A process, both pre- and post-deal, can reap significant benefits. While firms that ignore ESG during M&A not only miss the upside potential, but also risk making damaging and costly deal mistakes….

Over the past decades M&A has become an indispensable element of corporate strategy. Yet, given the large amounts of capital involved, one single mistake can have very destructive consequences. This means that financial skills are critical for executives who are directly or indirectly involved in the decision-making process, argues Professor Matti Suominen, who teaches the…

For those looking to catch up on valuable insights from leading finance academics and experienced corporate executives over the summer, we’ve curated a collection of the top AIF newsletter stories. Stay ahead of the game by exploring our top reads from the first half of 2024. Dive into the ten most popular articles, reports, interviews…

Last May, a diverse group of professionals gathered at the Amsterdam Institute of Finance to embark on a three-day journey into the complex world of business valuation. Led by Professor Matti Suominen from the Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki, participants of varying backgrounds, including legal, finance, general management, and M&A, united with a…

At the end of May the highly acclaimed three-day course, Negotiation Dynamics of the Amsterdam Institute of Finance, commenced. Renowned as one of the premier negotiation training programs globally, it is led by Ingemar Dierickx, a senior partner at D&AC – Negotiation Advisors. For over three decades, Dierickx has been advising clients across a wide…

In the almost two and a half decades Jim Wahlen has been teaching Advanced Financial Statement Analysis at the Amsterdam Institute of Finance, financial reporting has gone through major changes. Regulation has been significantly strengthened, as has the role of the accountant. As Wahlen hands the baton to his successor Matt Wieland, he looks back…

Part 1 of our series ‘Participant’s Perspective – Inspiring lessons from leaders in practice’: Lessons in venture capital and investor thinking with aspiring entrepreneur Vinodkumar Bhovi. Where do investors scout their prospective investments? What do they find important when negotiating a deal with a start-up? Why do they think about an exit strategy early in…

During the cross-disciplinary program Mergers & Acquisitions at the Amsterdam Institute of Finance (AIF), top expert Tim Galpin took the participants on an exciting tour through the dynamic M&A landscape. One of his key messages throughout the course was: “Value is only projected during the transaction. Value is created after the deal is done.” •…

What financial risk professionals should understand about autocallable swaps and embedded risks. Analysis by Patrick Oberhaensli, CFA This article explores how such structures operate within Ucits rules, combining bond portfolios and autocallable swaps to deliver targeted returns, defined risk profiles and institutional-scale investment strategies. Funds constructed entirely from synthetic structured products incorporating exotic derivatives that…