PhiDelphi Corporate Finance

What PhiDelphi Corporate Finance does

PhiDelphi Corporate Finance was a Netherlands-based M&A advisory firm headquartered in Hilversum, founded in 2001. The firm operated as a boutique corporate finance adviser serving business owners, private equity firms, and corporate clients with sell-side, buy-side, and debt advisory mandates.

PhiDelphi subsequently merged into Clearwater International, a larger pan-European corporate finance advisory firm founded in 2003 and operating 20 offices across 12 European countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom) with a team of over 475 professionals. The combined firm offers two core service lines: M&A Advisory and Debt Advisory, with sector coverage spanning Automotive, Business Services, Consumer, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Industrials & Chemicals, Real Estate, and Tech & Tech Services.

The business model is professional services fee-based: revenue is generated per engagement from advisory mandates on transactions such as business sales, PE partnerships, strategic buyer sales, management buyouts, and debt refinancing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per engagement. Go-to-market relies on direct enterprise advisory engagement supported by a content marketing apparatus (Knowledge Hub, sector insights, success stories) and event participation. The firm also maintains a US partner relationship to support cross-border North America-Europe transactions, such as advising Bontrup Dairy on the sale of US-based United Dairy Group to GreenTop Acres.

Name

PhiDelphi Corporate Finance

Legal name

Clearwater

Website

https://phidelphi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PhiDelphi Corporate Finance is a Netherlands-based M&A advisory firm that merged into Clearwater International, a pan-European corporate finance adviser offering M&A and Debt Advisory services across 12 European countries and 11 industry sectors to business owners, private equity firms, and corporates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Finance Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA), Cross-Border M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAH), Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Mergers acquisitions advisory
• Debt advisory services
• Corporate finance advisory
• Sell-side advisory
• Buy-side advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Services: Advisory fees for mergers and acquisitions transactions, including sell-side and buy-side mandates, helping business owners, PE firms, and corporates navigate complex transactions.
2. Debt Advisory Services: Advisory services for debt financing, refinancing, and capital raises to support strategic growth, acquisitions, and operational needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PhiDelphi Corporate Finance was a Netherlands-based M&A advisory specialist (founded 2001, Hilversum) that merged into Clearwater International. Through Clearwater, it delivers two core advisory services: M&A Advisory (buy-side and sell-side transaction advisory for business owners, private equity firms, and corporates) and Debt Advisory (debt raising and refinancing to fund acquisitions, growth, and strategic initiatives).

Product overview

Clearwater is a corporate finance advisory firm offering two core services: M&A Advisory and Debt Advisory. The firm positions itself as a local adviser with a global reach, operating across Europe with 20 offices and a team of over 475 professionals. Its services are designed to help business owners, private equity, and corporates navigate strategic transactions, including selling a business, partnering with private equity, selling to strategic buyers, raising debt, and unlocking business value through actionable strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M&A Advisory Mergers and acquisitions advisory services including buy-side and sell-side mandates, helping business owners, private equity firms, and corporates navigate strategic transactions such as selling a business, partnering with PE, and selling to strategic buyers.
• Debt Advisory Services Debt advisory services helping clients raise and refinance debt to fund acquisitions, growth, and strategic initiatives, including refinancing to support strategic mergers and future growth.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 years of commitment to clients' futures with extensive transaction history

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• US PartnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClearwater has established a US partner relationship to extend their global reach beyond Europe, enabling cross-border transaction capabilities for clients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Houlihan Lokey: Large US-headquartered advisory firm with significant European mid-market M&A and Corporate Finance presence; competes with Clearwater for cross-border European mandates but operates at much greater scale and with a fully-owned US franchise.
• William Blair: US mid-market M&A and equity advisory firm with growing European franchise — comparable to Clearwater in mid-market client focus and sector coverage, but with a fully-owned US platform and broader investment-banking capability.
• Lazard: Global bulge-bracket M&A and financial advisory firm with deep European presence — competes with Clearwater on larger European mandates and PE-led transactions but offers a much broader product set (restructuring, asset management).
• Rothschild & Co: Global advisory group with one of the strongest European mid-to-large-cap M&A franchises — competes directly with Clearwater for European corporate and PE mandates, particularly cross-border, but at meaningfully larger deal sizes.

Direct peers

• Drake Star Partners: European-headquartered M&A advisory boutique focused on Technology, Media & Digital — directly comparable to Clearwater in deal-team-led, sector-specialist mid-market M&A execution across Continental Europe and the UK.
• Oakley Advisory: Independent European mid-market M&A advisory boutique — directly comparable to Clearwater in deal-size sweet spot, sector coverage across consumer and industrials, and founder/PE/corporate client mix across the UK and Continental Europe.
• GP Bullhound: European-focused M&A advisory firm specialising in Technology and Digital — overlaps with Clearwater's Tech & Tech Services vertical and shares the founder/PE/corporate mid-market client base across Continental Europe and the UK.
• Arma Partners: European boutique M&A advisor focused on technology and digital assets — overlaps with Clearwater's Tech & Tech Services sector and similar mid-market European coverage, serving founder, PE, and corporate clients.
• Lincoln International: Global mid-market M&A advisory firm with a strong European footprint, sector-specialist model, and similar positioning between bulge-bracket banks and local boutiques — directly comparable to Clearwater in deal size, sector coverage, and client mix.
• Clairfield International: International mid-market M&A advisory network with pan-European country partner offices and cross-border execution — closely comparable to Clearwater's 20-office European model and founder/PE/corporate client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clearwaternetherlands

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&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PhiDelphi Corporate Finance