Our history
The firm was founded in Tournai under the name EF Gestion by Esteban Diez, with a business dedicated to supporting and facilitating the transfer of family businesses.
Tanguy della Faille joined the firm as a partner. The firm adopted the name Family Business Transmission and accelerated its development, establishing itself as a leading player in the M&A market.
The firm strengthened its business operations with the introduction of a back-office function. The opening of offices in Brussels, Antwerp and Mons further expanded our regional presence.
The firm launched its civil and commercial mediation activity under the name FB Mediation. Our team specialised in conflict prevention through governance and conflict resolution through mediation, with a particular focus on family businesses and shareholder relations, including tensions and disputes between shareholders.
The firm modernised its identity under the FB Transmission brand. The arrival of Philippe Hennebert marked a new phase of growth, reflected in the opening of our Namur office.
The firm continued its expansion in Wallonia with a new office in Liège. Philippe Hennebert became a partner.
FB Transmission merged with Tramanco, a firm based in Kortrijk and led by Pierre-Paul De Beir and Bruno Bouckaert. This alliance significantly strengthened the firm’s presence in Flanders and consolidated its national reach.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the firm brought all its areas of expertise together under a new identity: Fondaris. Guided by the tagline “Continuity built on trust”, this new chapter reaffirms our role as a trusted partner serving SMEs.
Our mission
At Fondaris, we believe that a business is more than just its assets. It represents a life project that should be preserved and passed on under the best possible conditions. Our mission is to support business leaders in ensuring the continuity of their business, while respecting what they have built and the relationships on which it is founded.
Our values
Every day, Fondaris builds a strong relationship of trust with SME business leaders. Through a professional approach and clear commitments, we establish a rigorous working framework, guided by a long-term vision and dedicated to protecting your interests.
To ensure that every project is carried out under the best possible conditions, we approach each assignment on a personalised and confidential basis, in keeping with our values.
“The absolute foundation of our relationships.”
In the world of family business and ownership transfers, every decision is closely tied to the history and wealth built over a lifetime. We act as independent and rigorous trusted advisers. This position enables us to provide complete integrity and absolute discretion, helping business leaders make strategic decisions with confidence and peace of mind.
“Preserving what truly matters.”
A business is a living ecosystem that must be nurtured to ensure its continuity. Drawing on our first-hand experience, “We’ve been there, we’ve done it,” we protect the history built by business leaders, the DNA of their organisation and the stability of family relationships. Our aim is to build transitions that are smooth, balanced and firmly focused on the future.
“The determination to bring your project to a successful conclusion.”
The transfer of an SME is a complex process, marked by technical and human challenges. Our role is to commit fully, with pragmatism and tenacity, alongside the business leader to overcome the critical stages of the transaction. This operational determination is essential to resolving deadlocks and turning intentions into successful outcomes:
- Total commitment: Working fully alongside the business leader to defend their interests during the critical stages of the transaction.
- Tenacity and efficiency: Applying our expertise and rigour to bring transactions through to completion.
- First-hand expertise: Resolving deadlocks pragmatically, drawing on our own experience and the realities of the field.
Our team
At Fondaris, you benefit from the cross-disciplinary expertise of experienced partners and professionals. Our multidisciplinary team brings together high-level specialists in M&A, financial engineering, business law and accredited mediation, ensuring comprehensive and secure management of your assignment.
Partners
Tanguy della Faille
Managing Partner
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
FBAS srl
1009.711.996
tanguy.della.faille@fondaris.be
Tanguy della FAILLE is originally from the Antwerp region. Born in 1967, he holds a degree in Law from KU Leuven and an MBA from Vlerick School of Management.
Tanguy developed an international career within one of Belgium’s leading banks. For just over 14 years, he held various management positions in the Corporate Banking, Financial Institutions and Domestic Wholesale departments. These roles took him successively to Brussels, Warsaw, Amsterdam and Tournai, where he was responsible for the Corporate and Institutional department for West Hainaut.
Today, Tanguy focuses primarily on financing share buy-outs and negotiations between buyers and sellers.
Esteban Diez
Managing Partner
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
FBAS srl
1009.711.996
+32 473 99 53 73 | +32 69 76 66 46
Esteban DIEZ ANDRES is Spanish and settled in Belgium after completing his studies. Born in 1972, he holds a degree in Business and Financial Sciences from the University of Valladolid in Spain and a postgraduate degree in Management Sciences from the University of Liège in Belgium.
Esteban has more than seven years’ experience as an adviser on business creation and transfers at CCIWapi. In this role, he developed a regional economic dashboard and supported numerous family businesses in their search for partners. He subsequently developed training modules and programmes for Forem aimed at improving the competitiveness of Walloon SMEs.
Esteban focuses in particular on the active identification of potential counterparties and on valuation techniques.
Philippe Hennebert
Managing Partner
Chemin des Ranchauds, 1 - 5020 Namur
Fabusac srl
0779.363.425
philippe.hennebert@fondaris.be
+32 495 58 11 80 | +32 81 15 12 13
With a degree in Economics and a degree in Law, Philippe Hennebert has extensive international experience in the United States, Spain and Algeria.
He spent most of his career at ING Bank, where he worked successively in Corporate Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, MidCorp and Private Banking as a Family Business Expert.
Passionate about business succession and long-term financing for family businesses, Philippe will cover the provinces of Namur and Liège for Fondaris, further strengthening our local presence.
M&A Team
Frédéric Driessens
Senior M&A Consultant
Chaussée Verte, 93. 4470 Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse
frederic.driessens@fondaris.be
+32 470 19 76 83 | +32 43 25 47 61
Frédéric is from Liège and is strongly committed to both his region and entrepreneurship.
He holds degrees in Business Administration from ULiège, specialising in Business Engineering, as well as a degree in Advanced Finance from HEC Liège.
His 30 years of experience, including 15 years as CFO of SMEs and 14 years as CFO, Investment Manager and Head of Real Estate at the Noshaq Group, enabled him to build a strong network of contacts. This allows him to connect industry players, investors, entrepreneurs, private and public institutions and other stakeholders across a wide range of sectors quickly and effectively.
His company, HUALTO Srl, provides support to property developers and a range of consultancy services.
Frédéric joined Fondaris in June 2024 to strengthen the team and develop our activities in the province of Liège.
Arnaud Durant
M&A Consultant
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
+32 494 30 57 25 | +32 24 86 10 79
After supporting private investors in their search for acquisition targets, Arnaud joined the Fondaris team in June 2022 as an M&A Consultant.
Throughout his studies and professional encounters, he developed an increasing interest in family businesses and business succession.
Arnaud is primarily responsible for identifying potential counterparties, preparing and monitoring ongoing assignments in collaboration with a senior consultant, as well as managing communications for Fondaris.
Stéphanie Vanlier
Senior Analyst
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
+32 479 68 24 06 | +32 24 86 10 79
Born in 1978, Stéphanie Vanlier holds a degree in Applied Economics from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve. She began her career at a major audit firm before moving into the banking sector.
After eight years as an Account Manager, during which she developed her knowledge of the Belgian SME market and her financial expertise, she joined the M&A department of the same bank. Stéphanie developed specific expertise in the valuation and transfer of family businesses.
In December 2016, Stéphanie joined the M&A team of a leading accountancy firm in Belgium before joining Fondaris in January 2019. Based in Brussels, Stéphanie supports clients in the Brussels region and Walloon Brabant.
Mathilde Collie
Management Assistant
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
After completing her studies, Mathilde began her professional career in various commercial roles. In 2010, she started a career of more than ten years at Banque J. Van Breda. She first worked as a Client Assistant and later as a Commercial Adviser, specialising in tax-efficient investments for entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals and members of the liberal professions in Hainaut.
Building on this extensive experience, Mathilde joined our firm as an Executive Assistant in 2023.
M&A Partners
Pierre-Paul De Beir
Business Development
Minister Liebaertlaan, 53 - 8500 Kortrijk
Tramanco srl
0421.828.452
pierre-paul.de.beir@fondaris.be
+32 475 23 58 12 | +32 56 14 33 17
Pierre-Paul DE BEIR is originally from Kortrijk and comes from a family with a background in the textile industry. Born in 1957, he completed his secondary education in Dutch at the Abbey School of Zevenkerken and holds an MBA in Financial Management from the University of Dallas.
After an eight-year career as an adviser at Compagnie Belge de Participations Paribas (COBEPA), he founded TRAMANCO in 1990, a firm specialising in M&A and strategic advisory services, with a particular focus on family-owned industrial companies.
He is widely recognised for his targeted approach to his work, combined with the necessary discretion and empathy.
Drawing on an extensive network of contacts in Flanders and northern France, he joined the Fondaris team at the end of 2024, thereby extending the firm’s geographical reach.
Deeply committed to community involvement, he has been a member of the Rotary Club of Kortrijk since 1991, Honorary Consul of France since 2004 and a director of the Franco-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Lille since 2007. He has held several directorships in family businesses and has devoted 28 years to the King Baudouin Foundation.
His interests include photography, drawing and collage, classic cars and the Korthals Griffon.
Pietro Zimbili
Business Development
Culot des Garennes, 6 - 7050 Jurbise
Mons Transmission srl
0749.783.472
+32 475 29 93 14 | +32 65 14 06 17
Pietro ZIMBILI is of Sicilian origin but has lived in the Mons region since childhood. Trained as an accountant, he began his career with a major cash-in-transit company.
He then joined a leading banking group, where he remained for nearly 40 years. In Brussels, he helped launch the Business Credit department before moving to the Mons region, where he gradually built up a substantial client base. Pietro has always been committed to personally supporting his business clients, whether retail businesses, SMEs or larger companies, and to building strong relationships with them.
He is Chairman of the Maison de l’Entreprise in Mons. Pietro is particularly interested in the human dimension of business transfers, including finding the right buyer, as well as in the financial structuring of acquisitions.
Didier Flahaut
Business Development
Rue André Dumont, 12 - 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert
A graduate of ICHEC, Didier has spent most of his career in the banking sector, where he has held both commercial and management positions.
For nearly 40 years, he has supported SMEs and their business leaders, a common thread running throughout his professional career.
Over the years, Didier has built a broad network of trusted relationships within the world of family businesses, among accounting and financial professionals, and within academic and non-profit circles.
Joining Fondaris gives him the opportunity to continue this commitment by supporting businesses at key stages of their development as part of an experienced and well-regarded team.
Didier contributes to the development of Fondaris’s activities, primarily in Walloon Brabant and Brussels.
Vincent Magdalijns
Business Development
Rue André Dumont, 12 - 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert
vincent.magdalijns@fondaris.be
Throughout his career, Vincent has worked in close contact with entrepreneurs. He first worked in automotive distribution, where he managed and developed a national network of dealerships. He then moved into banking and insurance, serving business clients. As director of a Brussels-based SME, he led its commercial development and managed its teams.
These experiences have given him a practical understanding of the business world, SMEs and their leaders, complemented by his involvement in the non-profit sector.
Originally from Brussels and a graduate of ULB, Vincent is keen to contribute to the development of Fondaris’s activities in the Brussels region and Walloon Brabant.
Thibault Lonhienne
M&A Consultant
Chaussée Verte, 93. 4470 Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse
thibault.lonhienne@fondaris.be
+32 497 63 82 57 | +32 43 25 47 61
After completing a Master’s degree in Banking and Asset Management at HEC Liège in 2019, Thibault went on to complete an additional Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship at HEC Liège.
In October 2020, he began his career at Deloitte in the Audit department in Liège.
In June 2022, Thibault joined his father, Alain Lonhienne, a statutory auditor, to carry out financial advisory and company valuation assignments for a wide range of businesses.
Cedric Guyot
Senior Counsel
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
With 40 years of experience as an Equity Partner at CMS DeBacker, Cedric brings an extensive network in the business world as well as in-depth expertise in company law and strategic transactions.
Throughout his career, he has advised numerous business leaders on transactions and matters relating to shareholdings, capital structuring and corporate governance. His extensive understanding of strategic issues and pragmatic approach provide genuine added value for our clients.
Mediators & Governance
Joe Beauduin
Accredited Mediator & Governance Advisor
Dieweg, 290 - 1180 Uccle
0765.187.171
+32 476 72 22 99 | +32 24 86 10 79
Joe is Belgian and bicultural, with roots in both the north and south of the country. He is fluent in Dutch, French and English and holds a degree in Management Engineering from Solvay VUB and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne.
Coming from a family of industrialists, Joe has worked as an entrepreneur, CEO and senior executive in HR, communications and marketing across various companies and countries. He also has extensive experience as a member and chair of Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards.
Today, Joe Beauduin acts as a trusted adviser to business leaders and shareholders, supporting them in three complementary areas: conflict mediation, effective governance advisory and the use of People & Organisation levers to improve performance.
Roland De Wolf
Accredited Mediator & Governance Advisor
Schildesteenweg, 94 - 2520 Ranst
+32 477 48 89 75 | +32 33 61 92 03
Currently based in Aalst in East Flanders, Roland De Wolf is a commercial engineer (Leuven, 1982) and holds an MBA from Cornell University. Roland is fluent in four languages.
Over the past 30 years, he has held senior management positions within international and family-owned groups, including AB InBev, Stora, Enzo, Moorkens and Nexans. Since 2018, Roland has made his experience available to SMEs and start-ups. Trained by GUBERNA, IFB and Vlerick School of Management, he has specialised in corporate governance, including independent directors and family charters.
Recognising the importance of business succession, Roland joined the Fondaris team in 2019. His main role is to develop business in Flanders.
Eloïse D’Oultremont
Accredited Mediator
Rue Beyaert, 75 - 7500 Tournai
eloise.doultremont@fondaris.be
Eloïse d’Oultremont is an accredited mediator in family, civil and commercial matters. She primarily handles intra-family disputes relating to issues such as:
- the division of assets following a death;
- the management of jointly owned assets;
- estate planning and preparation, including global inheritance agreements, family charters and family operating rules;
- the transfer or sale of a family business.
Eloïse holds a degree in Applied Economics from UCL. She also holds qualifications in Financial Analysis (BAFA) and Wealth and Tax Management (PBA-B). Having spent most of her career in private banking at ING, Banque Degroof and Banque Transatlantique, she worked as a wealth manager and developed extensive expertise in supporting families, managing the complexities associated with the organisation and transfer of wealth, and resolving conflicts that often disrupt family harmony. This experience gives her strong credibility as a wealth management professional.
Born in 1973, Eloïse is based in Brussels and provides her services in French.
Our offices in Belgium
With a comprehensive national network, Fondaris has a presence throughout Belgium. Our local offices enable us to work closely with the economic and regional realities you face, across Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels.
Our services
Valuation & Assessment
Find out the true value of your business
Business Sale
Sell at the right price, to the right buyer
Business Acquisition
Buy without any nasty surprises
Family Business Succession & MBO
Passing on your legacy whilst preserving it
Mediation & Governance
Easing tensions, establishing a framework for governance
