Frederiek Adams
Image of Frederiek Adams

Frederiek Adams

Partner

Email

frederiek.adams@aoshearman.com

Phone

+32 2 780 24 46

Offices

Brussels

V-CARD

Frederiek is EU Head of Private Equity.

He has over 20 years of experience advising Belgian and international corporates, private equity sponsors and management teams on complex cross-border and domestic transactions. His practice focuses on private equity and corporate M&A, including buyouts, exits, strategic partnerships, joint ventures and equity capital markets transactions.

Frederiek has a strong track record advising on both buy- and sell-side mandates across a broad range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology and software, life sciences and healthcare, energy and infrastructure, industrials, and the financial sector. He is regularly involved in high-profile and competitive auction processes, acting for leading international sponsors and founders on transactions of strategic importance.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • IK Partners on their sale of Innovad Group, a leading supplier of animal health and nutrition solutions offering a wide range of specialty additives, to PAI Partners.
  • Edgard Vermeersch (founder and CEO) and sellers (including institutional investors PMV, Gimv, Smartfin, SFPIM and Alychlo) on the sale of a majority stake in Itineris, a global leader in innovative SaaS solutions for the utilities sector, to Cobepa, a privately held investment company.
  • Damier Group, on its investment, together with Avista Healthcare Partners, in PK Holdline B.V., a vitamins, minerals and supplements company in the Benelux.
  • Apheon Capital Partners on its acquisition of the Rubio Monocoat group from Bencis Capital Partners, along with management’s reinvestment.
  • Eurazeo on its majority investment in Belgian GovTech software provider 3P.
  • A subsidiary of global financial services provider on the establishment of its 50% joint venture participation in Econodigital for the launch of Twain, an innovative hybrid wealth management platform.
  • Waterland Private Equity on the extension of their strategic partnership with United Petfood, the European market leader in pet food, through securing of a new (continuation) fund from institutional investors.
  • ESG on its EUR 75 million capital raise to invest in energy transition in Belgium and the Netherlands, and its majority shareholder on the sale of a minority stake – including investments by, among others, SFPIM and Infranity.
  • Eric Everard (founder and majority shareholder) on the sale of the Easyfairs group to Inflexion and Cobepa and the reinvestment of management in the new venture.
  • Baltisse and founder Steve Rousseau on the sale of, their (indirect) re-investment into, World of Talents NV, a specialized, international HR group with a strong focus on bottleneck professions and talent management, to CVC Capital Partners.
  • Rivean Capital and the Corilus Group, the leading Belgian medical software provider, on the investment by PSG Equity in Corilus.
  • A global institutional alternative investment management firm and Afendis Capital Management on the acquisition of Ysco NV and its subsidiaries Ysco Holding France and Ysco France from Milcobel CV.
  • Safuco NV and one of its shareholders Vendis Capital II Comm.V on the sale of 100% of the shares in Safuco NV, holding company of the X2O group, to an acquisition vehicle incorporated by WPEF IX Holdco 13 B.V., and the (re-)investment upon closing by Vendis Capital IV BV alongside ex-shareholders of Safuco and management in the group.
  • PAI Partners on its acquisition of Infra Group, a multi-disciplinary network infrastructure services provider, from ICG and the management.
  • Apheon, a leading European investment firm, and management on a strategic partnership with Astorg, the global private equity firm, to support the long-term development of Sofico, a global frontrunner in providing mission-critical software for the automotive finance, leasing, fleet and mobility industry.
  • Filip Goos (founder) and Indufin Investment (minority PE investor) on the sale of 100% of the shares in Cheops Capital Partners NV, a Belgian Based IT-services company.
  • Goodman on the sale of seven logistics assets for a total value of over €300 million to, among others, AGC Equity Partners.
  • The founders of Mercier Vanderlinden Asset Management on the sale to Van Lanschot Kempen, creating a Belgian wealth manager with more than EUR 9 billion in assets under management.
  • Ackermans & van Haaren (a Belgian listed entity), the Maas family as founders, and management, on their disposal of the Manuchar group, a leading Antwerp-headquartered distributor of chemical products in emerging markets, to US private equity firm Lone Star Funds, including advice on the roll-over and MIP.
  • Providence Equity Partners on the acquisition of Airties, a leading provider of cloud-based managed Wi-Fi solutions to operators globally (Airties) from several sellers including VC/PE group Invus, founders and managers.
  • Rivean Capital on its acquisition of Trustteam, a Belgian leading IT managed services provider, from Ardian.
  • IK Partners, the international private equity firm, on the acquisition of Plastiflex, the market-leading global supplier of high-end customized tube system solutions for the healthcare, industrial and appliances markets.
  • Alpha private equity and management on the sale of the Ipcom group, a leading European insulation group, and the roll-over of the management in the new management incentive plan set-up by the Purchaser, to Astorg.
  • GIMV on the acquisition of 30% stake in Picot group.

Pro bono

 

  • Frederiek is engaged in pro bono and community work through his mandate in our Belgian Social Impact Team.

 

Recognition

“Frederiek Adams is very smart and delivers excellent services. He is always very keen to think outside the box when necessary.”
Chambers 2026
“Frederiek Adams stands out for his deep understanding of both the legal and commercial aspects of transactions, which helps drive deals forward efficiently. He is well-informed, solution-oriented, and maintains a calm, practical approach even in complex situations.”
Legal 500 2026

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted to the Brussels Bar, Belgium, 2006

Academic

Master, Law, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), 2005

LLM, Oxford University, 2006

Languages

Dutch, English, French
Fraudulent emails

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Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.