289 episodes

M&A Science is an educational podcast exploring the intricate world of M&A with industry leaders and practitioners.

This podcast is sponsored by DealRoom, a diligence management and virtual data room platform for complex financial transactions. 

M&A Science Kison Patel

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 109 Ratings

M&A Science is an educational podcast exploring the intricate world of M&A with industry leaders and practitioners.

This podcast is sponsored by DealRoom, a diligence management and virtual data room platform for complex financial transactions. 

    How to Achieve Strategic Alignment From Top to Bottom

    How to Achieve Strategic Alignment From Top to Bottom

    Camilo Franco, Director, M&A Integration and Operations at Jamf
    There is an intimate tie between M&A strategy and corporate strategy. To be truly effective, acquisitions must directly support the overarching goal of the company. But beyond that, there needs to be a strategic alignment with everyone involved. 
    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Camilo Franco, Director, M&A Integration and Operations at Jamf, shares their secrets on how to achieve strategic alignment from top to bottom. 
    Things you will learn:
    • How to achieve strategic alignment
    • Strategies for effectively communicating M&A plans
    • Tools used to maintain alignment
    • Connecting diligence and Integration
    • Advice for integration practitioners
    ******************
    This episode is brought to you by the M&A Science Spring Summit 2024 happening on April 10th at 10AM ET. It's your chance to join leading M&A experts as they share innovative and the latest trends from their own deals. Save your spot here.
    ******************
    Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro
    08:45 Definition of strategic alignment
    10:31 How to achieve strategic alignment
    12:51 Relaying M&A strategy against corporate strategy
    13:54 Getting buy-in from team members
    15:37 Overcoming anti-M&A culture
    18:44 Strategies for effectively communicating M&A plans
    21:21 Alignment with the integration team
    23:51 Formulating the integration thesis
    26:37 Role of steering committee
    28:04 Communicating decisions with the broader organization
    29:30 Managing integration without IMO
    32:09 Ensuring company readiness for integration
    34:11 Gauging M&A readiness
    36:06 Side effects of burnout people
    37:25 Defining the end of integration
    39:30 Tools used to maintain alignment
    43:32 Agile M&A
    44:46 Connecting diligence and integration
    48:13 Using integration templates
    50:36 Advice for integration p
     

    • 55 min
    Performing Cultural Due Diligence to Better Understand the Target Company

    Performing Cultural Due Diligence to Better Understand the Target Company

    Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group.

    Most of the biggest M&A failures of all time are caused by culture clashes. Both companies cannot simply co-exist with each other, and instead of creating more value, they destroyed both of their businesses. This is why cultural due diligence is crucial in M&A. 
    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, shares his expertise on how to perform cultural due diligence to better understand the target company.
    Things you will learn:
    • The person responsible for cultural due diligence
    • Executing cultural due diligence
    • Using Playbooks
    • Successful partnership between Corporate Development and Integration
    • Advice for practitioners
    ******************
    This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom
    Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net.
    ******************
    Episode Bookmarks
    00:00 Intro
    05:11 Person responsible for cultural due diligence
    05:54 Importance of cultural due diligence
    08:08 Executing cultural due diligence
    10:29 Killing the deal due to cultural conflict
    14:54 Using Playbooks
    17:31 Cultural due diligence during early conversations
    20:12 Understanding how the target company makes decisions
    22:40 Things to look for during due diligence
    25:09 Using questionnaires for cultural due diligence
    27:08 Bilateral deal vs. Auction process
    30:10 Hardest part of cultural due diligence
    32:27 Successful partnership between Corporate Development and Integration
    35:33 Subculture due diligence
    37:07 Advice for practitioners
    38:31 Craziest thing in M&A
     

    • 41 min
    Strategic Alignment Between M&A and Corporate Strategy

    Strategic Alignment Between M&A and Corporate Strategy

    Baljit Singh, Former SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development at Nielsen Ventures
    Engaging in M&A activities just for the sake of doing them is one of the biggest reasons for failed deals. Without a well-defined purpose, these transactions can distract the business and waste massive amounts of resources. 
    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Baljit Singh, Former SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development at Nielsen Ventures, discusses the importance of strategic alignment between M&A and corporate strategy.
    Things you will learn:
    • Corporate strategy vs M&A strategy
    • Getting the strategy right
    • Capital allocation
    • Measuring business unit’s success
    • Deal structure to preserve cash
    ******************
    This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. 
    FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to firmroom.com
    ******************
    Episode Bookmarks
    00:00 Intro
    05:10 Corporate strategy vs M&A strategy
    09:25 Getting the strategy right
    11:17 Best ways to pitch deals
    13:09 Pillars of corporate strategy
    15:50 Capital allocation
    21:06 Measuring business unit’s success
    24:52 Holding business units accountable
    27:20 Why take a public company private
    33:51 Steps to take a public company to private
    38:11 Real life examples
    48:29 Deal structure to preserve cash
    54:45 Dealing with reluctant seller
    59:30 Craziest thing in M&A
     

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Overcoming M&A Challenges

    Overcoming M&A Challenges

    Douglas Barnard, former Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Legal Advisor at CF Industries (NYSE: CF)
    Problems don’t usually surface at the early stages because it's the honeymoon phase. Both the buyer and the seller would like to see the deal happen, so they work together to build momentum. And often that means postponing dealing with some of the more difficult and contentious issues. However, these M&A challenges are inevitable and will arise as the deal progresses. 
    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Douglas Barnard, former Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Legal Advisor at CF Industries, discusses effective strategies to overcome M&A challenges.
    Things you will learn:
    • Mindset to prepare for M&A
    • Overcoming M&A Challenges Between Signing and Closing
    • Mitigating Post-Merger Integration Risks
    • Biggest Challenges in M&A
    • Advice for First-time Acquirers
    *****************
    This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom.

    FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to  www.firmroom.com.

    ******************
    Episode Timestamps
    00:00 Intro
    05:26 Mindset to prepare for M&A
    10:26 Strategic Negotiation Tactics
    13:03 Having a Foundation of Trust and Honesty
    17:31 Assessing Buyer Transparency in Deal Negotiations
    20:17 Mastering Valuation and Identifying Synergies
    22:43 Identifying and Overcoming Obstacles in the M&A Process
    24:40 Uncovering Surprises in Due Diligence
    28:53 Utilizing a Private Investigator (PI) in a Deal
    29:57 Navigating Complex Negotiation Stages
    33:54 Zero-Sum Scenarios in M&A Auctions
    35:51 Valuation and Auction Bidding Strategies
    37:57 Overcoming M&A Challenges Between Signing and Closing
    41:29 Mitigating Post-Merger Integration Risks
    46:16 Biggest Challenges in M&A
    50:24 Advice for First-time Acquirers
    52:51 Craziest thing in M&A
     

    • 56 min
    How Business Cycles Affect M&A Valuation

    How Business Cycles Affect M&A Valuation

    Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank
    M&A valuation isn’t just about looking at the numbers. There are a lot of different factors that affect and contribute to the volatility of the M&A market. 
    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank, discusses how business cycles affect M&A valuation.
    Things you will learn:
    • What is a business cycle
    • What is a credit cycle
    • How business cycle impact M&A valuation
    • Common Mistake during M&A valuation
    • Importance of culture in M&A
    This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom
    Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at dealroom.net.
    Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro
    11:00 What is a business cycle
    12:41 What is a credit cycle
    16:59 Cycle’s impact on energy sector
    19:09 How business cycle impact M&A valuation
    22:36 Industries most affected by the cycles
    26:43 M&A valuation for first-timers
    31:47 Importance of culture in M&A
    34:23 When to pull of a deal
    37:37 Example of failed deals
    41:59 Example of good deals
    45:43 Common Mistake during M&A valuation
    46:43 M&A function maturity
    48:02 Other early M&A considerations
    49:15 Craziest thing in M&A
     

    • 54 min
    Validating the Acquisition Plan

    Validating the Acquisition Plan

    Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds
    When executing M&A, having a structured approach to validating the acquisition plan is crucial. The worst thing any acquirer can do is to buy a business that doesn’t bring value to the parent company.
    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds, shares the meticulous 6-step process his company uses to validate their acquisition plan. 
    Things you will learn:
    • Surveying Customers
    • Industry Trend Analysis
    • Partner vs Build Analysis
    • Formulating the strategic rationale
    • In-depth Company Analysis and Product Demos
    • Drafting a detailed memo
    This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom
    Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://www.dealroom.net
    Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro
    08:45 Approaching M&A
    18:20 Surveying Customers
    23:47 Industry Trend Analysis
    28:13 Partner vs Build Analysis
    34:12 Formulating the strategic rationale
    36:50 In-depth Company Analysis and Product Demos
    41:18 Drafting a detailed memo
    44:15 Pitching M&A to the board
    44:54 Craziest thing in M&A
     

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
109 Ratings

109 Ratings

DRBrown_PMI ,

Great M

Great content on M

zach.bocian ,

A great podcast for any Corp. Dev & M&A Professional!

Kison and his team bring insightful conversation and real world M&A lessons to every episode they produce. Highly recommend for any aspiring Corp. Dev or M&A professional.

NattyBohNJ ,

Great content!

The M&A Science podcast is great way to connect to the broader M&A community. It’s great to hear from leaders in the industry and continue learning about best practices and overcoming obstacles. If you’re involved in buying or selling businesses, subscribe now!

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