CDI Global

What CDI Global does

CDI Global is a privately held mergers and acquisitions advisory and corporate finance firm headquartered in Wommelgem, Belgium, founded in 1990. The firm provides strategic advisory services for cross-border M&A transactions, company searches, and divestitures, primarily serving middle-market companies. CDI Global positions itself as a global advisor with active engagement across Europe and EMEA, and documented mandates include work in Italy and across sectors such as healthcare IT and food and beverage.

The firm's core offering is a unified M&A advisory service rather than a modular product platform. Its underlying technology is not applicable in the traditional sense; the firm operates as a relationship-driven professional services business. Revenue is generated through professional services fees—likely success-based and retainer arrangements negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis—and the go-to-market motion is sales-led, relying on referrals, industry reputation, and direct relationship building with corporate clients and private equity firms.

CDI Global has pursued modest inorganic growth, notably acquiring OGiTiX in January 2023, and continues to act as financial advisor on cross-border transactions such as the 2024 PNP group acquisition of Gel.Bi. The firm maintains a horizontal segmentation approach, serving multiple industries and primarily targeting the middle-market size tier for both buyers and sellers in cross-border contexts.

Name

CDI Global

Legal name

CDI Global

Website

https://cdiglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CDI Global is a privately held Belgium-based M&A advisory firm founded in 1990 that provides cross-border corporate finance, deal sourcing, and divestiture advisory services primarily to middle-market companies across Europe and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory Fees: CDI Global generates revenue through financial advisory fees for facilitating M&A transactions, company searches, and divestitures. As an intermediary in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, the firm likely earns success-based fees or retainers tied to transaction completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

CDI Global is a cross-border mergers and acquisitions advisory firm that provides strategic advice to middle market companies worldwide. The firm facilitates M&A transactions through company searches, buyer/seller identification, divestiture support, and end-to-end transaction advisory across multiple industries. It acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers in cross-border strategic deals, operating through direct engagements with corporate clients and private equity firms.

Product overview

CDI Global is a cross-border mergers and acquisitions advisory firm that operates as a single, unified service offering rather than a modular platform. The firm provides M&A advisory services including company searches, support throughout M&A processes, and divestitures across various industries worldwide, with a focus on the middle market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cross-Border M&A Advisory End-to-end advisory for cross-border mergers and acquisitions, supporting middle market corporate clients and private equity firms through the entire transaction lifecycle, from strategy and target/buyer identification to closing.
• Company Search Services Targeted identification of acquisition targets or buyers for clients using CDI Global's international network and industry expertise, supporting cross-border company searches for middle market clients.
• Divestiture Advisory Advisory support for companies seeking to divest business units, subsidiaries, or carve-outs, including cross-border execution and buyer identification across multiple industry verticals.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a leading global middle-market investment bank specializing in M&A advisory, capital markets, and financial restructuring. It directly competes with CDI Global in cross-border middle-market M&A mandates, with deeper sector coverage but similar client profile.
• DC Advisory: DC Advisory (formerly Close Brothers Corporate Finance) is an international investment bank focused on mid-market M&A advisory with offices across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Highly comparable to CDI Global given its cross-border, middle-market specialization.
• Raymond James Financial: Raymond James Investment Banking provides middle-market M&A advisory with significant European presence through its European operations. Competes with CDI Global for cross-border middle-market mandates across multiple sectors.
• Lincoln International: Lincoln International is a global middle-market investment bank focused on M&A advisory, capital raising, and valuations, with strong cross-border execution capability in Europe and the Americas. Directly comparable to CDI Global in transaction size, sector breadth, and middle-market focus.
• Oppenheimer & Co. Oppenheimer's Investment Banking division provides middle-market M&A advisory with international capabilities, particularly in Europe. Comparable in deal size and cross-border focus to CDI Global's offering.
• Robert W. Baird: Robert W. Baird's Global Investment Banking group provides middle-market M&A advisory and capital markets services with cross-border execution, especially through European operations. Comparable to CDI Global in client size and deal complexity.
• Stout Capital: Stout is a global advisory firm specializing in M&A, valuation, and financial advisory services with strong middle-market focus. Comparable to CDI Global in transaction scale and advisory orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Alvarez & Marsal: Alvarez & Marsal provides corporate finance advisory, including M&A and transaction advisory services globally, with a significant European presence. A broader incumbent with overlapping advisory capabilities to CDI Global.
• Jefferies Financial Group: Jefferies is a global investment banking firm with substantial middle-market M&A advisory operations in Europe and cross-border contexts. A larger incumbent that occasionally competes for the same middle-market mandates as CDI Global.

Regional players

• Goetzpartners: Goetzpartners is a European-focused corporate finance advisory firm providing M&A and capital markets advice to mid-market companies. Comparable to CDI Global in European middle-market orientation but with more concentrated regional focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdi-global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CDI Global