Cognitive Corporate Finance is delighted to welcome Luis Armangué, who joins the firm as Senior Director in charge of developing the firm’s activities in Spain and Europe overall. The Spanish market is beginning to see many companies transitioning from startups to solid companies with European presence. At the same time, a growing number of foreign founders set up proof of concept businesses in the Spanish market before expanding to the rest of Europe.
Starting with a degree in Business and Law at the ICADE faculty of the university Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, later rounded up with an MBA at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). He reached an understanding of the start-up ecosystem with a Master in Internet Business (MIB) at ISDI, used for a Fintech data related start-up.
From 1991 to 1994 he approached the Iberian institutional investment community (mainly mutual funds, pension funds and private banking) offering equities, convertible bonds and warrants of international companies (mostly, Japanese and US listed companies and issuers). Up until 1997 he then advised European private banking in ESP debt investments.
After finishing the MBA in 1999 he dedicated five years in AB Asesores Morgan Stanley and N+1 (Alantra) to disposals, acquisitions, financial restructurings, sale and lease backs, public entities financial advisory, as well as strategic and business development. He gained expertise in the Spanish middle market and family-owned businesses and approached European private equity firms. In 2004 Luis set up the corporate finance division of Renta 4 Banco having executed one of the first IPOs at the MAB, Spanish Alternative Market for growth companies. He then moved in 2012 to IMAP international M&A where he worked on two relevant mandates for a US financial project finance firm and an Indian listed infrastructure company.
Charles Thoma, founder and CEO of Cognitive Corporate Finance, said: “On behalf of the whole team, we are delighted to have Luis on board. Luis is a truly versatile professional who has managed the full spectrum of corporate finance transactions and he brings a depth and wealth of experience which CCF will be able to bring to bear on our Iberian mandates, on our European mandates, indeed beyond Europe as well.”
Luis Armangue says: “The unique investment platform that Cognitive Corporate Finance has developed, enables filtering a relevant investor base in an efficient and quick manner, increasing significantly the probability of successful execution of its mandates.”