Banking Group Forms Advisory Partnership to Support Spanish Entrepreneurs

A Swiss banking institution has entered an exclusive agreement with a Madrid-based advisory firm to provide merger and acquisition services to private clients and family offices throughout Spain.

The partnership between Mirabaud and Oquendo Corporate was announced in July, expanding the range of services available to entrepreneurs and families navigating business transitions. The collaboration addresses client needs during generational changes, partner onboarding, and divestitures.

Oquendo Corporate brings more than 20 years of experience advising family businesses and entrepreneurs on corporate transactions. The firm has acted as financial advisor across numerous complex deals in various sectors throughout Spain.

“This agreement enables us to offer a more comprehensive service to our Clients, especially in contexts of growth and strategic evolution,” said Pedro Dañobeitia, chief executive officer of Mirabaud in Spain.

Transaction Expertise Covers Multiple Sectors

Recent Oquendo Corporate engagements demonstrate the firm’s range across different industries. The advisory group advised families on the sale of Lacer and DYTSA, both significant corporate transactions involving family-owned businesses.

The firm also supported Portobello Capital and Controlauto on the acquisition of Prevencontrol, a vehicle inspection company in Catalonia. Additional work included advising Duplex, a family-owned elevator maintenance business, on its acquisition of Valencia-based Ascensores Alapont.

These transactions reflect the types of advisory services now available to clients of the banking group’s Spanish operations. The partnership targets situations where business owners require independent financial advice on corporate restructuring or ownership changes.

Oquendo Corporate’s founding partners, Manuel de Prado and Iñaki Salazar, emphasized shared operational philosophies between the two organizations. Both firms maintain independence while prioritizing client needs.

“Collaborating with Mirabaud represents a natural alliance based on shared values: independence, innovation, excellence, and client orientation,” the partners said. “Our mission is to provide tailored solutions to protect and maximise the value of each business project.”

Partnership Model Reflects Industry Trend

The alliance represents a broader pattern among wealth managers: forming relationships with specialized firms to maintain independence while accessing expertise across disciplines. This approach allows banks to expand service offerings without building internal capabilities in every area.

Financial institutions increasingly recognize that clients require support beyond portfolio management and lending. Entrepreneurs face complex decisions regarding business succession, ownership transitions, and strategic partnerships.

The agreement enables the bank to address these needs through a trusted external partner rather than competing directly with specialized advisory firms. This model preserves the institution’s focus on wealth management while ensuring clients receive expert guidance on corporate transactions.

Both organizations already collaborate on market transactions, including advisory work for Valfortec, an international group in the renewable energy sector. These early engagements demonstrate the partnership’s practical application.

Service Expansion Strengthens Client Value Proposition

Dañobeitia characterized the partnership as strengthening the bank’s ability to support clients throughout their business and wealth journey. Many entrepreneurial families require both wealth management services and corporate advisory capabilities.

The partnership addresses situations where business value represents a substantial portion of total family wealth. Decisions about selling, restructuring, or transitioning a company have direct implications for wealth management strategies and estate planning.

Providing access to M&A advisory through Oquendo Corporate positions the wealth management platform to serve clients during pivotal moments. The bank maintains its primary focus on investment management while connecting clients to transaction expertise when needed.

The Spanish market presents particular opportunities for this service model. Family-owned businesses represent a substantial portion of the economy, and many face generational transition questions as founders approach retirement.

Geographic Coordination Supports Spanish Clients

Mirabaud operates offices in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, maintaining local presence across Spain’s primary business centers. This geographic distribution allows the bank to serve clients throughout the country while connecting them to specialized advisory services.

The partnership extends across all Spanish locations, ensuring consistent access to M&A expertise regardless of which office serves the client relationship. Teams coordinate to identify situations where corporate advisory services would benefit clients.

The institution entered Spain in 2012 and has expanded its presence across multiple cities over the past decade. The geographic footprint provides regional market knowledge that complements the bank’s international capabilities.

Transaction Advisory Addresses Complex Needs

Corporate transactions involve valuation analysis, negotiation strategy, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder management. These specialized skills differ from traditional wealth management expertise in portfolio construction and investment selection.

Oquendo Corporate’s focus on middle-market transactions aligns with the size and complexity of businesses owned by many private banking clients. The firm’s trusted relationships and market knowledge position it to support clients through sensitive corporate transitions.

The advisory firm emphasizes objective guidance and rigorous analysis when supporting clients through transactions. This independent approach mirrors the banking group’s emphasis on providing unbiased advice aligned with client interests.

Financial advice during corporate transactions requires understanding both business operations and personal wealth implications. Families must balance maximizing transaction value with tax efficiency, estate planning considerations, and post-transaction liquidity needs.

Complementary Capabilities Benefit Client Families

The partnership allows both organizations to maintain their core focus while providing clients with comprehensive support. The bank continues emphasizing relationship management and wealth planning while the advisory firm concentrates on transaction execution.

This division of responsibilities aims to deliver better outcomes than either organization could achieve independently. Clients receive specialized expertise at each stage without forcing either firm to operate outside its primary capabilities.

The collaboration model becomes particularly valuable during complex family transitions involving both business succession and wealth transfer. Coordinated advice across corporate and personal dimensions helps families navigate these interconnected decisions.

Dañobeitia noted the partnership represents progress toward offering comprehensive attention focused on actual client needs. The agreement reflects recognition that entrepreneurial families require support extending beyond traditional banking services.

The partnership positions the Spanish banking platform to compete for relationships with business owners who value integrated advice spanning corporate and personal finance. The model addresses a market need while preserving each organization’s independence and specialized focus.