Capnua

What Capnua does

Capnua Limited is an Irish corporate finance advisory firm headquartered in Dublin, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in advising mid-market companies and entrepreneurs on mergers and acquisitions (sell-side and buy-side), management buyouts, and debt and equity fundraising, with typical transaction values ranging from €20m to €250m. Since inception, Capnua reports advising on more than €5 billion of cumulative M&A deal value and securing over €3 billion in debt for clients, with 95% of transactions being international.

The firm operates as the Irish member of Oaklins, a global mid-market M&A advisory network with 60 offices across 40 countries and 850+ dedicated professionals, providing cross-border deal flow and buyer access. Capnua organizes its sector coverage around four specializations: Infrastructure & Engineering Services, Industrial & Business Services, Technology & Tech-Enabled Services, and Healthcare & Life Sciences, supplemented by Hospitality & Leisure and Retail & Distribution exposure. Named, verifiable transactions include the sales of Openet to Amdocs ($180m), iCabbi to Renault, Workhuman ($1.2bn shareholding), Linesight to IPS, Mercury Engineering (2017 MBO), and Elverys (MBO of 46-store retailer).

The firm is co-founded by Paul Keenan (Executive Chairman) and Eamonn Hayes (Managing Partner), both former BDO Ireland corporate finance leaders, with additional partners Jamie McConnell (promoted January 2024) and Alan Dunne, plus a Manager (Conor Guerin) and Associate Director (Tracy McNulty). Revenue is generated through professional services advisory fees, custom-quoted per engagement and typically structured as success fees tied to transaction completion. Business development is partner-led and relationship-driven, relying on referrals, reputation, Oaklins network connections, and limited digital marketing presence. Side ventures include co-founding Activate Capital (€500m residential development finance with KKR and ISIF backing) and FlyeFit Gyms.

Name

Capnua

Legal name

Capnua Limited

Website

https://capnua.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Capnua is a Dublin-based Irish corporate finance advisory firm (founded 2010) specializing in sell-side and buy-side M&A, management buyouts, and debt and equity fundraising for mid-market companies with deal values typically between €20m and €250m, operating as the Irish member of the global Oaklins network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Finance Advisory

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB), Management Buyouts (MBO/MBI) & Sponsor-Led Transactions Advisory (FSAEAGAI), Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)

Keywords

• Mergers acquisitions advisory
• Management buyout advisory
• Corporate finance advisory
• Debt equity fundraising
• Mid-market M&A

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. M&A Advisory Fees: Advisory fees for sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions, management buyouts, and corporate finance mandates. Revenue is generated through professional service fees, typically structured as success fees tied to transaction completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Capnua is a corporate finance advisory firm that guides ambitious business owners and mid-market companies through complex M&A transactions, management buyouts, and debt and equity fundraising. Engagements span sell-side and buy-side M&A, MBO structuring, and capital raises with typical deal values of €20m to €250m. The firm operates as the Irish member of the Oaklins global mid-market advisory network, providing access to international buyers and capital providers.

Product overview

Capnua is a corporate finance advisory firm offering a unified suite of advisory services for mid-market companies. The core offerings consist of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory, Management Buy-Out Advisory, and Debt & Equity Fundraising. These services are organized across four key sector specializations: Infrastructure & Engineering Services, Industrial & Business Services, Technology & Tech-Enabled Services, and Healthcare & Life Sciences. The firm leverages a global network through its Oaklins partnership to provide international reach alongside local expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory Advisory services guiding business owners through M&A transactions, including sell-side and buy-side M&A, with access to global networks through the Oaklins partnership. Designed for ambitious entrepreneurs and mid-market companies seeking to sell, acquire, or scale through M&A.
• Management Buy-Out (MBO) Advisory Advisory services supporting management teams in transitioning from operating a company to owning it, navigating key relationships and structuring complex solutions for smooth ownership transitions.
• Debt & Equity Fundraising Advisory services helping founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams secure debt or equity financing, including long-term debt, acquisition financing, and equity raises.
• Infrastructure & Engineering Services Sector Advisory Corporate finance advisory specialised for infrastructure and engineering services companies, including construction and engineering sectors, delivered by partners Paul Keenan, Eamonn Hayes, Jamie McConnell, and Alan Dunne.
• Technology & Tech-Enabled Services Sector Advisory Advisory services for technology companies covering M&A, growth equity, and debt advisory, with an AI sector focus. Includes engagements like Workhuman's $1.2 billion shareholding sale and Digital Marketing Institute PE investment.
• Healthcare & Life Sciences Sector Advisory Corporate finance advisory for healthcare and life sciences companies, including pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare services sectors. Uniphar plc has been advised on multiple acquisitions and refinancing transactions since 2011.
• Industrial & Business Services Sector Advisory Corporate finance advisory focused on industrial and business services companies undergoing transformation, restructuring, or seeking investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €5 billion worth of M&A deals advised since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• OaklinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapnua is the Irish member of Oaklins, a global mid-market M&A advisory network with 60 offices in 40 countries, 850+ dedicated professionals, and 1,900+ closed transactions in the past 5 years. Through this partnership, Capnua provides clients access to international deal flow and cross-border transaction expertise.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Clearwater International: European mid-market M&A advisory with a Dublin office; highly comparable to Capnua in deal size range, sector focus, and cross-border execution model.
• IBI Corporate Finance: Dublin-based Irish corporate finance boutique advising mid-market M&A, MBOs, and fundraising — a head-to-head Irish M&A advisor competing for the same €20m–€250m deal pool as Capnua.
• Livingstone Partners: Global mid-market M&A advisory boutique with UK/Ireland coverage; closely comparable business model, deal-size focus, and cross-border capability to Capnua.
• BDO Ireland Corporate Finance: Big Four-adjacent Irish advisory practice providing M&A and corporate finance services; the former employer of Capnua's co-founders and a direct competitor in the Irish mid-market M&A segment.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Ireland Corporate Finance: Irish arm of global Big Four advisory with M&A and deal advisory capability; competes with Capnua on larger Irish mandates and cross-border deals, with broader scale and brand recognition.
• Houlihan Lokey: Global investment bank with strong European M&A and capital markets advisory practice; competes with Capnua on larger Irish mid-market mandates and cross-border sell-side transactions.
• Lincoln International: Global mid-market investment bank with European and Irish mid-market deal presence; larger scale and broader sector coverage than Capnua, competing for similar mandates.
• EY-Parthenon Ireland: Big Four strategy and transactions arm in Ireland; competes with Capnua on sell-side and buy-side mandates, with a global brand and integrated execution capabilities.
• KPMG Ireland Deal Advisory: Irish Big Four deal advisory practice covering M&A, due diligence, and valuations; competes with Capnua across mid-market transactions, with significantly greater headcount and integrated service offerings.
• PwC Ireland Corporate Finance: Irish arm of Big Four advisory with M&A and corporate finance practice; competes with Capnua on larger and cross-border Irish mid-market deals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capnuacorporatefinance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Capnua