Blauwtrust Groep expands stake in ROMEO Financial Services

After taking a minority stake in ROMEO about one year ago, Blauwtrust Groep increased this stake to a majority stake on June 7th. Martin Keegstra remains involved as a co-shareholder and CEO, while Edsel de Graaf has decided to use this moment to pursue a new path.

"With ROMEO, Martin and I have managed to establish a new and valuable operating concept for intermediaries and lenders. ROMEO is now mature and has a strong management team with many enthusiastic employees. Blauwtrust Groep took a minority stake in our company last year and collaboration within the group is going very well. So very well, that Blauwtrust Groep has indicated the desire to acquire a majority stake. I have always drawn my energy from starting new business and feel that this is also where my strength lies. This development gives me the opportunity to fully focus on that again," Edsel said.

Martin Keegstra, CEO of ROMEO: "Edsel has been of great value to ROMEO and has contributed enormously to the development of ROMEO with his commercial drive and relationship network. We are of course sorry to see him leave, but understand his decision. For myself, I would still like to commit myself 100 per cent to the opportunities I see for further growth of our beautiful concept. That is why I have decided not to sell my entire share in ROMEO, but to continue to dedicate myself, together with the other Blauwtrust companies, to offering intermediaries and lenders the best possible customer journey. I still see interesting opportunities to make a difference for our clients through a good combination of customer-focused teams and good intermediary-specific software. Accelerate can develop even faster with the support of a strong organization like Blauwtrust Groep and that is where I see the opportunities, especially for the intermediaries we serve".

Edsel will remain with ROMEO as a director until 1 July, after which he will step down. Martin will assume Edsel's duties from then on and also Joyce Schoenmaeckers, CFRO of Blauwtrust Groep, will temporarily act as co-director for ROMEO until a replacement for Edsel is recruited.

Ferdinand Veenman, CEO Blauwtrust Groep: "We are extremely pleased with ROMEO as a new part of our group. There are many connections with the services the other Blauwtrust companies provide and the cooperation with our colleagues in Hoorn is going very well. I am also very pleased that Martin has decided to stay on as a co-shareholder and CEO. First of all because of him as a person and entrepreneur, but equally important because with him we can safeguard the all-important DNA of the company." Ferdinand would have liked to keep Edsel on board as well: "I remember him from my time at GMAC, where, as at ROMEO, he was instrumental in the commercial development of the company. I am sorry he is leaving, but I fully understand his motivation. At this stage of his life, he can once again fully focus on what gives him energy and satisfaction. In doing so, I sincerely wish him every success."

Financial details of this transaction will not be disclosed.

 

Note to editors

About Blauwtrust Groep B.V.

Blauwtrust Groep connects supply and demand of residential mortgage financing in the Netherlands through its entities De Hypotheker, Dutch Mortgage Portfolio Management (DMPM), Conneqt and Quion. With nearly 40 years of experience and over 800 employees, Blauwtrust companies have each built a strong position in the Dutch residential mortgage market by providing investors, intermediaries and consumers with high-quality products and services. www.blauwtrustgroep.com

About ROMEO Financiële Diensten B.V.

ROMEO Financiële Diensten B.V. (also called ROMEO Groep) was founded in 2015 and realizes innovative and relationship-driven concepts in financial services. For example, ROMEO has the full-service formula for financial advisers via the Huismerk label and for financial advisers who want access to lenders the Basic Serviceproviding, Risk Hypotheekdesk and BlueLine Hypotheekdesk brands. ROMEO also offers the CRM platform Accelerate. In addition, the mid-office mortgage service MO.servicing for lenders is part of the group.

Check out our brands' websites for more information. https://romeofd.nl/over-romeo/


Contact person:

For more information, please contact
Ferdinand Veenman, CEO BTG
+31 (0)10 242 16 21
ferdinand.veenman@blauwtrustgroep.com

 

 

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