Sebastian Lieb, CFA, Finance Expert in Munich, Bavaria, Germany
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Sebastian Lieb, CFA

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Toptal Member Since
December 10, 2019

Sebastian is a seasoned finance professional with over ten years of experience working with technology companies in an operating role, as an investor, and as an advisor. His core strengths are project management, financial modeling (LBO, DCF, merger), valuation, investor presentations, and due diligence (market, strategy, competitors).

Investment AnalysisFinancial ModelingMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Private EquityVenture CapitalFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)FintechGrowth StrategyPost-merger IntegrationCorporate FinanceDue DiligenceComparable Company AnalysisFinancial ReportingFinancial SystemsInvestor PresentationFinancial Consulting

Career Highlights

Director Financial Planning & Analysis
Xempus
Senior Associate
HarbourVest Partners
Associate
Arma Partners

Education Highlights

Master's Degree (MBA)
Kellogg School of Management
Bachelor of Science Degree
Ludwig Maximilians University

Certification Highlights

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute

Work Experience

Director Financial Planning & Analysis

2020 - PRESENT
Xempus
  • Built-up data analytics function inside the company, increasing the number of Tableau users from three to 40 in 18 months.
  • Key role in the company’s $70m Series D fundraising in spring 2022.
  • Streamlined the company’s budgeting and investor reporting processes to shorten required timescales.
Focus areas: Financials, Corporate Development, Strategy, M&A (Buy-side), Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Intelligence (BI), Analytics

Head of Corporate Development

2018 - 2020
EGYM
  • Led the company's corporate development function, reporting directly to the CFO.
  • Evaluated potential M&A add-ons from a strategic and business development perspective, with a key focus on revenue and cost synergies with the existing business. Potential targets included US/EU public companies and privately held businesses.
  • Monitored publicly listed competitors and the broader market environment to identify new trends and areas for growth early on.
  • Created and maintained a three and five-year business plan across multiple business lines and geographies.
  • Set up PMI processes and internal due diligence steps and processes.
  • Worked on equity and debt fundraising in close collaboration with senior management, FP&A and external advisors.
Focus areas: Finance Process Improvement, Post-merger Integration, Comparable Company Analysis, Corporate Finance, Growth Equity, Venture Capital, Fundraising, Transaction Modeling, Financial Modeling, M&A Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Investment Director

2017 - 2018
Holtzbrinck Digital
  • Evaluated numerous add-on acquisitions and minority investment opportunities for the Digital Science portfolio of Holtzbrinck Digital across Europe and the US.
  • Led the creation of investment memorandums for the group-wide investment committee and shareholders of Holtzbrinck Publishing Group.
  • Ran internal due diligence teams and coordinated external advisors for financial, legal, and tax work.
  • Played a key role in the drafting and negotiation of share purchase agreements in close collaboration with internal and external legal counsel.
  • Collaborated with portfolio companies on the annual budgeting process and industry best practices and implemented new processes around financial controls and sales.
Focus areas: Internal Financial Reporting, Financial Systems, Due Diligence, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Valuation Modeling, Investment Portfolio Management, Capital Budgeting, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Senior Associate

2014 - 2017
HarbourVest Partners
  • Completed several growth equity and buyout investments alongside other private equity firms across Europe, such as Finanzcheck.de (€33 million Series C round).
  • Focused on technology transactions with a particular interest in software and B2C business models.
  • Reviewed financial models and analyses of other co-investors and led the development of internal operating financial models, including several different business cases.
  • Led valuation analyses of potential new investments using a variety of methodologies such as comparable companies, comparable transactions, and DCF and LBO models.
  • Ran internal due diligence efforts and coordinated financial, legal, tax, and commercial advisors alongside co-investors.
  • Oversaw the creation of investment memorandums for a firm-wide investment committee; presented potential investments in front of the committee and followed up with Q&A sessions.
  • Sourced new potential investments, particularly in the DACH region.
  • Worked with publicly-listed and privately held companies in the US and Europe.
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Financial Reporting, Due Diligence, Comparable Company Analysis, Series B, Technology, Investment Portfolio Management, Investment Summaries, Minority Investments, Investment Memoranda, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Growth Capital Raising, Private Equity

Associate

2011 - 2014
Arma Partners
  • Developed multiple operating models, integrated three statement models, merger models, LBO models, and DCF valuation models.
  • Oversaw the valuation analyses for 25+ mandates, using the trading comparables, transaction comparables, DCF, and LBO methods.
  • Spearheaded due diligence and M&A processes. Participated in 20+ M&A processes, led the due diligence, coordinated between buyer and seller, and remote as well as onsite meetings.
  • Ran business development: actively built and managed the firm's pipeline for the DACH region.
  • Worked with clients from numerous European countries, and the US, often across borders. Clients included publicly listed and privately held companies in all aforementioned geographies.
  • Built numerous pitch presentations for prospective acquirers, e.g. corporations and financial investors.
Focus areas: Venture Capital, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Digital Media, eCommerce, Technology, Software, Due Diligence, Financial Modeling, Public Tender, Private Equity, Corporate Finance, Growth Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Investment Associate

2009 - 2010
Aurelius
  • Built operating and LBO financial models with the possibility to flex numerous assumptions and different cases.
  • Led the creation of investment committee memorandums for a wide range of potential new investments across Europe in a number of industries, specifically manufacturing, retail, pulp, and paper.
  • Completed the investment in a fine chemicals plant in Scotland.
  • Attended several site visits and management meetings.
  • Worked across Europe, mainly Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain.
Focus areas: Carve-out Planning, Financial Restructuring, Distressed Assets, Distressed/Special Situations
2019 - 2021

Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA)

WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management - Germany

2019 - 2021

Master's Degree (MBA) in Business Administration (MBA)

Kellogg School of Management - Evanston, Illinois, USA

2006 - 2009

Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration

Ludwig Maximilians University - Munich, Germany

SEPTEMBER 2018 - PRESENT

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

CFA Institute

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