Investigations, Diligence & Compliance Associate

Kroll has acquired ABC economics, a Berlin-based competition economics boutique founded by economist Frank Maier-Rigaud. The German firm specialises in complex transaction advice, damages quantification, cartels, state aid, and telecommunications and energy regulatory matters. ABC economics has around 30 staff and revenues below €10 million annually. The acquisition aims to create synergies across Europe, as competition cases and cartel damage claims often originate with national authorities or the European Commission before branching into claims across multiple member states. This marks Kroll's second acquisition in disputes within a year, following its purchase of arbitration boutique Global Project Strategy in March 2025. The expansion forms part of Kroll's growth strategy under private equity owners Stone Point and Further Global, which acquired the firm in 2020 for $4.2 billion.

From governance to scale: closing Luxembourg's valuation gap. The State of Valuation Practice in Luxembourg In Partnership With Kroll, in partnership with The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, surveyed 65 in-house / third-party Management Companies (ManCo) representing approximately EUR 4.1 trillion in AuM (25% of the authorized Luxembourg ManCo population) to benchmark how valuation functions are governed, operated and scaled in 2026. - the survey covers 50% of the AuM in Luxembourg, currently there are about 8.3tr AuM and Kroll covered 4.1tr AuM EUR. The findings reveal a market at a clear inflection point: governance frameworks are well established, but operating models are not keeping pace with the demands of scale, complexity and regulatory scrutiny. Critically, Luxembourg is transitioning from a model of valuation oversight to one of valuation ownership, with greater accountability, expertise and decision-making expected locally. Elena Moisei, Head of Portfolio Valuation in Luxembourg at Kroll: "Three patterns emerge clearly: Valuation expertise is growing in Luxembourg; governance frameworks are widespread but uneven in depth; and the operating model has not yet caught up with the governance." Key takeaways. Genuine valuation capability now sits in Luxembourg. 44% of firms conduct and perform valuations locally, reinforcing a structural shift toward substance and decision-making being anchored in Luxembourg. High intent across technology levers. 83% template - standadisation. Implementation is building beyond template standardisation; technology investment pipeline is strong. Independent valuers Strengthen governance and transparency. 54% Private debt use a fully independent third-party valuer. An independent challenge to the marks adds transparency while the ManCo retains responsibility. Governance frameworks are well established across the industry. 77% Local valuation committee in place. Local valuation committees meeting quarterly are the foundation across the industry. Automation scales with size, not asset class. 2.5x Large firms vs. small firms. Scale - not asset class - enables automation: a case for proportionate, size-appropriate expectations. The survey is not just a benchmark - it highlights a structural inflection point for ManCos and fund boards: * Regulatory Expectations Are Now Aligned With Local Accountability: Firms must ensure their Luxembourg entities are not only accountable on paper but operationally equipped to deliver. * Governance Alone is No Longer Sufficient: Committees and policies are widespread, the differentiator is now depth of challenge, documentation and defensibility. * Manual Processes Are Becoming a Risk, Not a Norm: As portfolios scale, spreadsheet-led models introduce operational fragility, audit complexity, and bottlenecks. * Technology Adoption is Now a Competitive Advantage: While intent is high, execution remains limited, creating a clear opportunity for early movers to differentiate. Looking ahead: from frameworks to scalable models. The next phase of market evolution will be defined by the ability to close the gap between governance and execution. From oversight to independent challenge. Firms will increasingly embed true independence within valuation governance, including: * Independent representation on valuation committees * Greater board-level engagement with models and assumptions * Back-testing as standard practice From Manual workflows to scalable operating models. Operational transformation will centre on: * Integrated valuation platforms * Automated controls and audit trails * Reduced reliance on spreadsheet-based processes From fragmented inputs to structured data ecosystems. Addressing data fragmentation will require: * Standardization across managers, valuers and administrators * Improved system integration (APIs, centralized data environments) * Greater consistency across asset classes A critical test case: stressed markets. The lack of consensus in stressed market conditions highlights a fundamental vulnerability. Divergence in valuation approaches when judgement is most critical increases regulatory, audit and reputational risk. Further regulatory or industry guidance is likely. In the interim, firms should proactively define, document and defend their valuation methodologies under uncertainty. Elena Moisei: "The tools to scale already exist - the challenge is integration, standardization, and embedding them within robust governance frameworks." A note on market trajectory. While this report is a point-in-time benchmark, the findings suggest slower-than-expected evolution in certain areas: * Technology adoption remains uneven despite high awareness * Spreadsheet dependency persists across asset classes * Emerging themes such as AI have yet to meaningfully shift valuation workflows This reinforces that the industry's next leap will be operational, not conceptual. Get in touch. Kroll supports in-house and third-party ManCos and fund boards to: * Benchmark valuation frameworks against market practice * Strengthen governance and independent challenge * Design and implement scalable, technology-enabled operating models

| view printer-friendly version | | back | | Andreas P. Stöcklin appointed to lead FTI Consulting's transactions offering in Continental Europe |. MUNICH, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of M&A and transactions expert Andreas P. Stöcklin as a Senior Managing Director in the firm's Corporate Finance segment. Mr. Stöcklin, who is based in Munich, will lead the firm's Transactions practice across Continental Europe and support the ongoing expansion of M&A, driving independent board advisory, transaction due diligence, carve-out and valuation capabilities across the region. Mr. Stöcklin will also be a member of the firm's Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") management committee. "Transactions advisory is a priority area for FTI Consulting across Europe, building on the strong foundations of our UK and the Middle East teams," said Diederick van der Plas, EMEA Co-Chair and EMEA Head of the Corporate Finance segment at FTI Consulting. "Andreas joins us at an important stage in our growth. He successfully built a pan-European Transactions practice from the ground up and brings precisely the kind of experience we need to scale our offering across Continental Europe. It is great to have him on the team and I look forward to working closely with him." Mr. Stöcklin has more than 25 years of experience in cross border transactions across the deal lifecycle and providing independent board advice for publicly listed corporations and leading private equity firms. He has particular expertise in M&A advisory, with a focus on complex carve-outs in the telecom, media and technology and business services sectors. Mr. Stöcklin brings a strong track record in building multidisciplinary transaction teams across Germany and Europe. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Stöcklin held several senior leadership positions at Kroll, where he was a member of the global financial advisory leadership team, head of EMEA Corporate Finance, co-chair of the EMEA management committee and the country leader for Germany. "As a senior transactions advisor with extensive experience providing board-level advice, Andreas adds significant and immediate value to our clients and team," said Christian Säuberlich, Country Leader of FTI Consulting in the Germany, Switzerland and Austria ("DACH") region. "We are committed to growing our Transactions capabilities in Germany to help our clients get deals done and deliver real long-term value. The key to this is combining strong industry knowledge with crucial insights that support decisions at critical points in the deal process. Andreas brings complementary leadership and corporate finance skills that will be instrumental as we strengthen our offering and expand our team to achieve this." Commenting on his appointment Mr. Stöcklin said, "FTI Consulting's global reach, entrepreneurial drive and collaborative culture were a huge draw for me. I look forward to working with this incredibly talented team to continue building a market-leading transactions advisory practice for our corporate and private equity clients." About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organisations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of March 31, 2026. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting's services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalised and independently managed. The Company generated $3.8 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2025. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com. FTI Consulting, Inc. 200 Aldersgate Aldersgate Street London, EC1A 4HD