Thonik joins Only, a portfolio company of Abenex


Amsterdam – CFI is pleased to announce it acted as the exclusive corporate finance advisor to Thonik in joining Only, a portfolio company of Abenex.

About Thonik
Thonik is a top-tier design studio based in Amsterdam, renowned for the ‘power of design’ and its expertise in visual communication, corporate identity, interaction, motion, and environmental designs. Working across sectors from culture and politics to business, the firm develops large-scale supergraphics, immersive installations, wayfinding systems, exhibitions, and spatial branding that strike a balance between bold concepts and practical execution. With a strong international reputation and portfolio covering renowned names such as Gemeente Amsterdam, Hong Kong’s M+ Museum, IZZ, NRC, SP, Boijmans van Beuningen, KRO-NCRV, Thonik is recognised for combining societal engagement with clear, conceptual ‘Dutch’ design, with numerous exhibitions and their 25-year anniversary book ‘Why We Design’ dedicated to their work.

About Only
Only operates as a network of complementary creative and entrepreneurial agencies in the Netherlands and Belgium. Organised into independent teams of around 20 to 75 professionals, Only combines local agility with the benefits of a shared network of 700+ creative entrepreneurs and experts in the Netherlands and Belgium. The network focuses on addressing complex communicative, societal and business challenges—such as sustainability, regulation, and mobility—by delivering sharp, human-centred communications across sectors including government, B2B, energy, and mobility. In June 2024, Only partnered with Abenex, a pan-European investment fund, to accelerate the initiated buy-and-build efforts and scale operations across Europe.

About the transaction
By joining Only, Thonik underlines its position as a leading design studio in the Netherlands and reinforces its ambition to further strengthen that role at the intersection of cultural and commercial design. The move reflects Thonik’s desire to professionalise and expand its organisation, while continuing to build on its legacy of visual communication, art direction, and thought leadership. Due to the outstanding reputation of Thonik, several parties expressed interest in partnering with the studio; Only was ultimately chosen for its philosophy, where all creative studios within the network operate independently while benefiting from collective scale. As part of the Only network across the Netherlands and Belgium, Thonik gains access to broader resources and collaboration opportunities without compromising its creative identity. The shared belief in the power of design to drive meaningful change was a key motivation behind the partnership. “Only offers the right environment to embrace new opportunities and navigate challenges – while staying true to who we are,” says Nikki Gonnissen, co-founder and creative director at Thonik. For Only, welcoming Thonik enhances the network’s creative capabilities and supports its mission to address complex challenges with bold, human-centred solutions.

CFI’s role in the process
CFI acted as exclusive financial advisor to Thonik, supporting the shareholders throughout the transaction. CFI’s role included identifying and engaging potential investors, assisting in the preparation of financial and strategic materials, and leading the negotiation and structuring of the deal. These efforts ultimately resulted in a successful transaction with Only, completed on 25 June 2025.

Thomas Widdershoven, co-founder and director at Thonik:“We heard positive things about CFI before our introduction. Their deal experience in the agency landscape, personal match, and understanding of our values as entrepreneurs made them an excellent partner for our process. We appreciated their support and guidance which led to the best possible outcome and finding the most suitable partner with a strong cultural fit.”

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