Alvarez & Marsal expanded its global transaction advisory group into Spain with the appointment of Cristina Almeida and Ignacio Basagoiti as managing directors based in Madrid.

Almeida and Basagoiti joined A&M from Deloitte. While there, Almeida served as a partner with Deloitte’s financial advisory team and headed the financial institutions transactions group and the ESG transactions practice. Basagoiti served in Deloitte’s transaction services department in Spain and co-headed the financial services team and spearheaded the transaction services sustainability practice (ESG).

Almeida, who will lead A&M’s global transaction advisory group in Spain, has more than 20 years of experience advising on M&A transactions across the region, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. She has worked with both corporate and private equity clients on more than 200 deals globally across a range of sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, consumer products, healthcare, leisure, infrastructure, real estate and technology. Additionally, she has advised on buy- and sell-side due diligence, carve-outs, M&A advisory mandates, valuations, exit readiness and post-merger integration projects.

Basagoiti has more than 13 years of experience in large and mid-market buy- and sell-side financial and integrated due diligence projects, specializing in complex acquisitions and disposals for both private equity and strategic buyers. Basagoiti has experience in carve-outs, business plans, revenue lever identification, synergies and the sustainability implication of deals. He has led international transactions requiring knowledge of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) requirements. He has worked across multiple industries, including financial services, consumer products, mobility, real estate and technology.

The newly established team in Spain will work with the existing teams of A&M’s global transaction advisory group to meet local market demands and address cross-border M&A requirements with due diligence and transaction advisory services for private equity and corporate clients.

“Our global transaction advisory group continues to grow at pace across the globe in response to markets’ individual and collective cross-border needs,” Paul Aversano, managing director and global practice leader of A&M’s global transaction advisory group, said. “The new team in Spain provides the next strategic step for us to deliver seamless cross-border collaboration with colleagues, particularly in Latin America, and expand our boots-on-the ground bench strength in Europe.”

“Deal flow across Europe has reached record levels in recent months. We therefore see a significant opportunity in Spain and are expecting continued activity,” David Evans, managing director and European practice leader of A&M’s global transaction advisory group, said. “A&M’s leadership, action, results approach positions us to solve for clients’ complex issues and deliver independent deal advice to maximize value. Cristina’s and Ignacio’s significant market experience and strong local network benefit our growing team in Europe and our clients worldwide.”

“The addition of Cristina and Ignacio augments our capabilities and the growth of our practice in Spain,” Fernando de la Mora, managing director and head of A&M in Spain and Portugal, said. “Their individual and collective expertise aligns with our operational heritage and builds upon on our local private equity and financial services performance improvement offering. Their joining enables us to provide a wider range of transactions-focused services to private equity firms and corporates alike.”