Headed by Victor Basta and Steve Bachmann, the boutique firm will focus on delivering high-value exits for US and European growth stage companies
Victor Basta, together with Steve Bachmann and Dorian Maillard, has launched a new investment bank, Artis Partners, with the aim of achieving deeply prepared strategic exits for US and European technology companies. The firm will prioritise key tech sectors including AI, helping organisations at the cutting edge of this burgeoning industry scale at speed and maximise valuations.
As the former head of Arma Partners, DAI Magister and Broadview, Basta has advised on over 130 transactions in a 30-year career. This latest endeavour demonstrates his commitment to the technology industry, which he predicts will continue to soar in value due to the revolutionary potential of AI magnifying the value of existing investments in software and digital business models.
Basta will operate as a Managing Partner of Artis Partners, whose leadership is bolstered by Steve Bachmann, former senior banker at Atlas Technology Partners and Broadview as well as previously a tech CEO himself, and Dorian Maillard, with over 12 years’ experience advising and investing in technology-driven companies.
Commenting on the launch, Basta said: “Founding Artis Partners is a strong indication of my and our commitment to the technology market and belief in the long-term growth in value and potential of emerging companies now leveraging AI to accelerate. AI valuations are only just beginning to drive up value across the tech sector as nearly all growth companies leverage it to grow, and generate higher margins faster, than we have ever seen. This makes the current generation of tech growth companies potentially even more valuable than any prior group.”
“Having previously founded three successful investment banks, Steve, Dorian and myself are looking forward to channelling all of our experience into establishing Artis Partners as a leading financial force in the European and US technology markets. With the support of the highly skilled team, we have put together and a raft of new recruitments during the coming 12 months, I’m confident the firm will realise its ambition of broadening the transformative reach of breakthrough innovations.”
“With AI starting to go ‘mainstream’ the entire tech landscape is poised for a pace of change unheard of even 5-10 years ago. We will help clients navigate crucial phases of transition, ensuring they evolve in line with the wider market and remain attractive to strategic buyers.”
The M&A market is poised for expansion over the next 12 months, with recent research suggesting dealmaking in the US will increase by 10% in 2025.
“What this increase in activity does not fully grasp is the potential for a very sharp rise in company valuations. Companies as small as 50-100 employees have the potential, leveraging emerging technologies, to attract valuations several times greater than they could have commanded a few years ago.”
“One of our primary objectives will be to support founders and key investors through the entirety of the exit process to realise that value. Our tried and tested exit preparation framework, which we developed more than 10 years ago at INSEAD and have refined since, sits at the heart of the strategic M&A work we do. By helping companies stress-test and shape their positioning, front-run key deal issues, and tailor outreach to potential acquirers, our goal in every sell-side engagement is to ensure a company is bought, rather than sold.”
Basta concluded: “The largest tech companies are surveying a crowded market more intensely now than ever, searching for unique innovations that can make a genuine impact on their product portfolios or solve a key problem in their offerings. With our support, growth stage companies can access a vast network of prospective buyers and financiers, allowing them to scale rapidly to achieve profitable exits.”
