Michael J. Seligman

Independent adviser to private equity firms and asset managers investing in financial and corporate services businesses across Europe, Iberia and the Americas. Formerly Head of the Americas at TMF Group and a member of its Global Executive Committee. Based in Portugal.

Discuss a deal LinkedIn profile
Michael J. Seligman, private equity adviser, Portugal

Twenty years building and running international services businesses. Since 2024, on the other side of the table.

Countries led at TMF
20+ in the Americas
Last operating role
Head of the Americas, TMF Group
Languages
English, French, ItalianWorking Spanish and Portuguese

Practice

An operator’s view across the deal cycle.

Due diligence on the commercial and operational case, with a view of the market and competition. A senior second read of the vendor materials by someone who has run these businesses.

  • Key-person dependency
  • Client concentration behind the headline
  • Attrition exposure
  • Regulatory drift
  • Hidden technical debt
  • Pricing power and recurring revenue

Value-creation planning and post-merger integration, built by someone who has run the integrations and turnarounds the plan depends on.

  • Integration complexity
  • Harmonisation across offices
  • Retaining the people the franchise needs
  • Commercial strategy credibility
  • Operating model and AI readiness
  • Buy-and-build sequencing

Commercial strategy and operating model work with management ahead of investment, expansion or sale, so the business holds up under the next buyer’s diligence.

  • The equity story the operations can support
  • Operating model the next owner will test
  • Management depth beyond the founders
  • Vendor materials that survive a second read

Fund administration, corporate services and capital markets businesses, for European and US investors. Client engagements are confidential, and they stay that way.

Career

Global
Americas
Europe
Asia
  1. 2024 – presentIndependent adviser, private marketsCommercial and operational due diligence, market assessment and value-creation planning for European and US private equity firms and asset managers.
  2. 2025 – presentCo-founder, LeSelBrain coaching and the LeSel Brain Profile.
  3. 2022 – 2023Head of the Americas, TMF GroupGlobal Executive Committee. 20+ countries and 2,500+ people; 20% annualised regional revenue growth through M&A and market expansion.
  4. 2019 – 2022Head of Latin America and Iberia, TMF GroupRegional lead on TMF’s acquisition of Paraty Capital, a Brazilian fund administration platform.
  5. 2018 – 2019Managing Director, Mediterranean Europe, TMF GroupPortugal, Spain, Italy and Malta.
  6. 2015 – 2018Managing Director, Sweden, then the Nordics, TMF GroupTurned around the Swedish business; the model was rolled out across the Nordics and South West Europe.
  7. 2011 – 2015Global Relationship Director, TMF GroupJoined Equity Trust shortly before its merger with TMF. Top-tier global clients across 70+ countries.
  8. 2007 – 2011Fund structuring and private investmentStructured a Guernsey distressed real estate fund, from GP and administrator terms to the private placement memorandum.
  9. 2002 – 2007Southeast AsiaBuilt and sold a telecoms services business; earlier, market and investment research for foreign direct investment.

On the record

BloombergExecutive profile, TMF Group TMF Group press releaseTMF Group acquires Paraty Capital PAM InsightTMF completes Paraty Capital acquisition

Writing

Published on LinkedIn.

Discuss a deal.

Give me the shape of the transaction: sector, stage, timing. Everything you send is treated as confidential.

michael@seligman.eu Portugal

Confidential. Never shared.