EC European Capital RTO 1, which is planned to start trading on Spotlight on 10 September, hopes to present a target company for a reverse takeover before the end of the year.- We have several alternatives on the table and are optimistic about finding the right company this year, CEO Alexander Coenen tells Finwire.EC European Capital RTO 1 is a newly formed company with no operating activities. Its business concept is to carry out a reverse takeover in which an unlisted company takes over the listed structure and thereby gains access to Spotlight.The initiative is backed by Munich-based EC European Capital Markets. The team has worked with listings and capital raisings since 2004 and, according to Coenen, has participated in more than 100 capital market transactions on several European markets. At most, twelve listings were carried out in a single year, 2015.- We have worked with, among others, Euronext and markets in France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Austria. But the team at Spotlight has been the most supportive we have worked with in a listing process.Coenen particularly highlights the opportunity to combine Spotlight with a secondary listing in Frankfurt. This would allow the company to combine the Swedish retail investor market with EC European Capital's German network.- Compared with other RTO companies, our difference is that we are building a bridge between two financial markets. Our RTO companies will also be able to obtain a secondary listing in Germany.He describes Sweden as particularly interesting because smaller companies here can gain a broad shareholder base among retail investors.- Having a shareholder base of several thousand people is something we in Germany can only dream of. There, retail investors generally prefer larger companies.According to the memorandum, EC European Capital RTO 1 normally seeks target companies with an enterprise value of approximately 5-20 million euros in a potential transaction. The company is not formally limited to any particular industry or geography, but the focus is on innovation-driven operations and companies that already have established products or services and measurable revenue. In the interview, Coenen further specifies the criteria. He identifies software, AI and other future-oriented technology sectors as interesting and says that the company does not want to bring in businesses that do not yet have revenue.- We will not be looking for companies that do not yet have any revenue. They should preferably be profitable, able to cover the costs of being listed and self-financed.The natural search market is primarily Germany, where EC European Capital has its network. But Coenen does not want the target company to be solely a local German operation.- If it is an entirely German company, some of the point of listing it in Sweden disappears. It should have international operations and preferably also a presence in Sweden.At the same time, he emphasises that the company is not sitting passively waiting for candidates to emerge.- We are active and have already been contacted by several companies, but no agreements have been entered into and any potential acquisition will be disclosed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.Coenen says that investment decisions are made by a committee consisting of the three board members, all of whom have extensive experience from the capital market. According to Coenen, one of them has a background as a fund manager with several billion in assets under management.According to the memorandum, EC European Capital Markets owns 90 percent of the shares, while Dividend Sweden has acquired the remaining 10 percent to contribute to broadening the shareholder base. Dividend Sweden has proposed that 75 percent of its holding, corresponding to 7.5 percent of all shares, be distributed to the company's shareholders. Coenen says that the principal shareholder's large holding provides a clear financial incentive not to push through a transaction at too low a valuation.- We are not interested in carrying out an RTO at a low valuation. Our philosophy is that there should be good upside for the existing shareholders.The initiative is also not intended to be a one-off.- We have already started working on a second RTO, but it will not be listed until the first one is complete.According to Coenen, EC European Capital will not become involved in the day-to-day operations of the target company. Instead, its role will be to provide support in areas including capital market matters, investor relations, reporting and regulations.- We are not involved in the day-to-day operations. That is not our core competence. But we are not just selling a listed platform; we will support the company in all areas relating to the capital market.According to the memorandum, the sponsor has undertaken to finance the operations for up to 18 months from the first trading day, or until a reverse takeover is completed or control of the company otherwise passes to a new owner. What happens if you have not completed a transaction within 18 months?- It is unlikely that it will not happen. We have a pipeline, several alternatives already on the table, and I am convinced that we will find a suitable company.Listing factsFirst trading day: Planned for 10 September 2026Marketplace: Spotlight Stock MarketShort name: ECRTO1Principal shareholder: EC European Capital Markets, 90 percent according to the memorandumFocus: Reverse takeover of an unlisted company, normally with an enterprise value of approximately 5-20 million eurosFinancing: Secured by the sponsor for up to 18 months from the first trading day