Onno Boerstra
LAWYER
+ 31 6 53458016
Email:
Address:
Boerstra Management Advisory
Jachthavenweg 121
1081 KM Amsterdam
Phone:
Boerstra Management Advisory
Onno Boerstra is a corporate lawyer who has practiced at Van Doorne his entire career, of which the last 30 years as partner. He has been involved in numerous domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, including buyouts and private equity transactions. In his role as M&A advisor, Onno has acted on behalf of various corporates and many private equity investors, both on the buy and the sell side. Over the last two decades he has focused on advising management teams of target companies in private equity or sponsor backed transactions. As a result, Onno has created a niche practice with a leading position in The Netherlands. That is also why he is highly recommended for management participations in several independent lawyer surveys and by leading law firms and financial advisers across the M&A arena.
Onno has also a broad managerial experience. He was Managing Partner at the Curaçao office of Van Doorne from 1999 to 2000, where he was responsible for managing and reorganizing the Curaçao and Aruban offices. Onno likewise served as the Managing Partner of the Van Doorne Amsterdam office from 2007 to 2010. In the period 2018 to 2022 he was the firm's Senior Partner.
After his retirement from the firm at the end of 2023, Onno continues his management advisory services on a personal and stand-alone basis, be it in co-operation with Van Doorne. To that effect they have entered into a collaboration agreement, providing any necessary legal, tax and other support needed to secure a seamless continuation of this practice.
What does he do?
In the context of a sale to a financial investor, we advise management teams on how to structure and implement their equity participation in the new setting. Our services and expertise focus on the following key components:
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advice on future equity and other incentive plans with new owner (sponsor)
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guidance on how to proceed through the sale process
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advice on current market practice and trends
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assess the bidders’ proposals and negotiate the management participation terms with the new sponsor (term sheet)
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advice on the new governance structure and employment terms and conditions
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advice on the most tax efficient structure and arrangement of an advance tax ruling if needed
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negotiation of long form participation documentation and implementation of the agreed management plan
Most typical topics to be addressed and negotiated are the following:
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level of (re-)investment and associated management equity stake
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anticipated exit returns for management compared to returns for sponsor
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anti-dilution and other minority protection
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tax consequences and structuring
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governance model
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leaver provisions and associated mandatory offering and valuation scenario’s
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exit model and management undertakings
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tag and drag along provisions
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management warranties
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compensation and restrictive covenants
We also advise on non-cash incentive schemes, such as phantom shares, stock appreciation rights (SARs) and performance plans, either as a separate scheme or in combination with an equity participation plan.
Rankings & awards
What clients say
Number 1 position in MergerMarket Benelux League Table 2011
Band 1 ranking in Chambers Europe and Chambers Global 2019, 2018, 2017
Best M&A Lawyer Netherlands (Gouden Zandloper) 2017
Dealmaker of the Year (OverFusies League Table) 2018
Nominated as Best M&A Lawyer by M&A Awards 2018
Number 1 position in M&A deals Netherlands 2018 (both value and volume)
Best M&A Lawyer Netherlands (Gouden Zandloper) 2019
Nominated as Best M&A Lawyer by M&A Awards 2020
Nominated as Best M&A Lawyer by M&A Awards 2021
He draws praise from clients for being experienced, flexible and dedicated as well as down-to-earth and a good listener. - (Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A and Private Equity)
He understands private equity very well, and the process of a transaction. He is realistic about what can be accomplished, knows how to play the game and is not afraid to get tough on the opposition. - (Chambers Europe, Corporate/M&A)
He has very good commercial touch and feel for market practice, and you can call him at any time, he's so responsive and always available. - (Chambers Europe, Private Equity)
Leading Individual. - (Legal 500, Corporate and M&A)
Extremely strong client focus and good knowledge. - (Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, Corporate and M&A Mid Market)
Relaxed when the process becomes tense. - (Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, Corporate and M&A Mid Market)
Highly regarded. - (IFLR Financial Services and M&A)
He can adapt to the people in the room. - (Chambers Global and Chambers Europe, Corporate and M&A Mid Market)
Professional Education
Harvard Business School
Leading Professional Firms
2008, Boston
Cornell Law School
Master of Laws (LL.M)
1983, New York
Vrije Universtiteit Amsterdam
Dutch Law
1982, Amsterdam
SELECTION OF SPONSORED MANAGEMENT TRANSACTIONS
Onno Boerstra
Phone:
+31 6 53458016
Email:
contact@onnoboerstra.com
Terms of engagement:
We tailor our terms of engagement always to the specific wishes of our client and the scope of our anticipated work. We can offer the following fee arrangements:
• hourly based invoicing on the basis of an advance fee estimate
• fixed fee, subject to certain assumptions
• discretionary upward or downward adjustment of the agreed fee up to a certain percentage, depending on the client’s appreciation of our services
• success/abort fee up to a certain percentage
• monthly retainer plus a deal size related success fee (minus paid retainers)
The agreed terms will be reflected in a letter of engagement between ourselves and the target company. In addition, our general terms and conditions will apply to all work performed by or on behalf of Boerstra Management Advisory.