The Dealist

SS&C Intralinks
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business
  • Biweekly

The Dealist is your insider’s guide to the world of M&A. This podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, brings you candid conversations with top dealmakers and thought leaders, exploring the trends, challenges and strategies shaping today’s deal landscape. Hosted by journalist Catherine Ford, The Dealist delivers expert perspectives to keep corporate and private equity dealmakers like you ahead of the curve. Explore our INsights blog for more expert analysis and industry trends. https://intralinks.com/insights

  1. Oct 28

    Lessons for Dealmakers From a Former M&A Reporter

    According to the 2026 SS&C Intralinks M&A Leaks Report, produced with Bayes Business School, nearly one in 10 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals leaked before its public announcement in 2025. But how does confidential information reach the media, and what can dealmakers do to protect their transactions? In this episode of The Dealist podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, Ed Hammond, founding partner at Collected Strategies and former M&A reporter for Bloomberg and the Financial Times, reveals how journalists uncover confidential transactions and turn fragments of information into market-moving stories. Drawing on his experience breaking major M&A stories, Ed explores why deals leak, the risks facing cross-border transactions and how companies can respond when sensitive information becomes public. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why M&A deals leak and how reporters uncover confidential information • How seemingly harmless conversations can expose sensitive transactions • Why cross-border deals face greater leak risks • How dealmakers can minimize leaks and manage the fallout Further reading 2026 SS&C Intralinks M&A Leaks Report “Confessions of a Former Star M&A Reporter,”Financial Times Subscribe to The Dealist Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks Discover how SS&C Intralinks DealCentre AI™ revolutionizes deal management with cutting-edge AI technology and smart solutions here: https://www.intralinks.com/products/dealcentre-ai?utm_source=podcast-platform&utm_medium=partner-referrals

  2. Oct 20

    Corporate Divorce: Why Some M&A Marriages Don't Last

    Inorganic growth is often essential to achieving business objectives, making M&A a strategic necessity. Yet despite the significant time, capital and resources invested in transactions, nearly half are eventually undone. Why do so many corporate marriages end in divorce, and what can dealmakers do to avoid the same fate? In this episode of The Dealist, presented by SS&C Intralinks, Henrik Cronqvist, professor of finance at Chapman University, and Désirée-Jessica Pély, CEO of GetAlfa.AI and research associate at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, discuss their research into the behavioral patterns behind failed acquisitions. Drawing on an analysis of more than 1,500 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions involving S&P 500 companies, they explore why some deals are doomed from the start while others unravel because of unforeseen market disruptions. They also examine the role of corporate culture, executive overconfidence and fear of missing out (FOMO) in M&A decision-making. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why 46 percent of M&A transactions in the study were eventually undone • How overconfidence, confirmation bias and FOMO can derail even promising deals • What Microsoft–Nokia and Unilever–SlimFast reveal about why acquisitions fail • Why cultural compatibility can make or break a transaction • Five practical steps to avoid corporate divorce and recognize when it's time to walk away *Subscribe to The Dealist ** Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks Further reading Research article in MIT Sloan Management Review: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/why-mergers-fail-and-how-to-spot-trouble-early/ Full academic research paper: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3662469

  3. Oct 12

    Northbound Capital: Inside the U.S.-Nordics M&A Surge

    In this episode of The Dealist podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, we explore what's fueling U.S.-Nordics mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, the sectors attracting investment, and the regulatory, cultural and execution challenges facing cross-border dealmakers. Guests • Airi Hammalov, Partner, White & Case LLP • Johan Steen, Partner, White & Case LLP • Mark Mua, Regional Lead, Nordics, SS&C Intralinks Key topics discussed • Why U.S. buyers are increasingly targeting Nordic companies, particularly in technology, industrial automation and life sciences • How Nordic deal structures, negotiation styles and cultural norms differ from those in the U.S. • The impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) screening and regulatory approvals on deal timelines • Why early preparation, disciplined due diligence and post-merger integration planning are critical to successful transactions • How AI is streamlining cross-border due diligence while human judgment remains essential to assessing risk and negotiating deals Further reading The New Geography of Cross-Border M&A, produced in association with PitchBook.

  4. Aug 4

    M&A's Biggest AI Risk Isn't What You Think

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving fast in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). However, governance is not. Dealmakers are using AI to accelerate diligence, sharpen analysis and streamline execution, but the rush to adopt new tools is creating new exposure related to security, accuracy and control. In this episode of The Dealist podcast, host Catherine Ford is joined by Liam Stoker from Reuters Professional and Ashwin Moranganti from SS&C Intralinks to unpack findings from AI in M&A Dealmaking: A Benchmark Study. Based on responses from 400 global deal professionals, the research reveals just how quickly AI is becoming embedded in deal workflows — and where the risks are beginning to outpace the safeguards. The conversation explores: • Why AI adoption is no longer the headline — governance is • What it means that nearly 80 percent of dealmakers have experienced AI-related security or accuracy incidents • Why senior leaders remain cautious even as deal teams push ahead • How tool sprawl is creating new challenges across the deal life cycle • Why permission-aware access, secure AI architecture and model context protocol (MCP) matter to M&A workflows Subscribe to The Dealist podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks Further reading Download AI in M&A Dealmaking: A Benchmark Study here: https://www.intralinks.com/resources/reports/ai-ma-dealmaking

  5. May 26

    Inside Shareholder Activism: Boardroom Strategies That Work

    In the final episode of season three of The Dealist podcast, we explore the evolving world of shareholder activism and corporate governance. We’re joined by Michael Vogele of Alliance Advisors and corporate governance expert Charles Elson, founding director, Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware and executive editor at large, Directors & Boards, to unpack the trends shaping boardrooms and dealmaking today. Key topics include: • Why activist campaigns are reaching record levels • How boards can prepare for shareholder scrutiny • The growing importance of board composition and refreshment • The role of governance in M&A strategy and corporate performance • Lessons from Elon Musk and Tesla on board independence and shareholder influence • Practical advice for companies facing activist investors From proxy battles and shareholder proposals to investor engagement and long-term value creation, this episode offers timely insights for executives, directors and dealmakers navigating an increasingly complex market environment.

  6. Apr 15

    PwC on Deals: Reinventing M&A Structures for a Changing Market

    PwC partners Kevin Desai and Chris Rhodes join this episode of The Dealist podcast to explore how deal structures are evolving as capital markets grow more complex — and why sticking to the old playbook may now be the biggest risk. As Chris highlights, deal complexity isn’t something to avoid — it’s where opportunity lives. With new sources of capital emerging, dealmakers need to rethink how they structure transactions and stay open to approaches that better fit today’s environment. The key takeaway: don’t be afraid of where the money comes from and make sure it’s right for your business, your deal and the governance needed to drive value. What you’ll learn: Why the real risk today is doing deals the way you always have How evolving deal structures are reshaping M&A strategy The difference between private capital and private credit — and why it matters How tailored capital solutions can unlock new opportunities Why governance and active partnership are critical to realizing value *Subscribe to The Dealist ** Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks Further reading H1 2026 Global M&A Dealmakers Sentiment Report: Our annual survey published with Reuters reveals how 400 corporate and PE professionals expect disrupted deal pipelines, regulatory changes and ongoing geopolitical risks to shape dealmaking in H1 2026. Download here: https://www.intralinks.com/resources/reports/global-ma-dealmakers-sentiment-report-h1-2026?utm_campaign=701pq00000hlmkc&utm_program=dealist-podcast&utm_content=s3e4

  7. Mar 27

    What Makes A Good IPO?

    The initial public offering (IPO) market is showing signs of life, but it’s a very different landscape from years past. In this episode of The Dealist podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, we explore what it really takes to go public in today’s more selective, fundamentals-driven environment. Host Catherine Ford is joined by veteran Silicon Valley lawyer Louis Lehot of Foley & Lardner LLP, and Blockstream CFO Michael Golomb who has taken multiple companies public. They unpack why companies are staying private longer, why IPOs are no longer the default path, and what’s driving the current wave of market readiness. Listen to learn: • What’s changed in the IPO landscape — and why timing matters more than ever • The real reasons companies choose to go public (and when they shouldn’t) • What IPO readiness looks like across teams, systems and strategy • How artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to shape the IPO process • The key ingredients of a successful IPO — from strong fundamentals to a compelling growth story If you want a clear, insider view of what separates a good IPO from a great one, this episode delivers. *Subscribe to The Dealist ** Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealist/id1805660414 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zinlPsfd2xDuY10zdIBqJ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/intralinks Further reading IPO Readiness in 2026: Our new white paper, informed by expert insights shared during a recent panel Intralinks hosted with Foley & Lardner LLP, examines how investor expectations, sector dynamics and operational discipline are redefining what IPO readiness means in 2026. Download it here: https://www.intralinks.com/resources/whitepapers/ipo-readiness-2026?utm_campaign=701rm00000ynm0b&utm_program=dealist-podcast&utm_content=podcast-s3e4

  8. Mar 18

    It’s The End of Desktop Due Diligence As We Know It

    The most successful M&A deals start with a clear thesis —one grounded in what must be true for the deal to deliver value. Due diligence has been redefined as a result, shifting toward a more focused, thesis-led approach. And with that shift comes the end of traditional “desktop diligence.” As Kevin Desai, U.S. and Mexico Deals leader at PwC, puts it: “The old days of doing desktop diligence … probably not enough.” In this episode of The Dealist podcast presented by SS&C Intralinks, Kevin joins us to explore how due diligence has evolved into a far more strategic, hands-on discipline. Today, success starts with a critical question: What must be true for this deal to succeed? From there, diligence becomes thesis-led — focused not just on validating the numbers, but on understanding whether a business is truly built to deliver on its value creation plan. That means going deeper into operations, talent, culture and technology, and bringing in the right specialists to assess each dimension. The conversation also highlights a major shift in expectations: diligence is no longer just about identifying risks — it’s about building conviction. In a competitive deal environment, investors need speed to insight, clear answers and actionable solutions to move decisively. Listen to learn: • How aligning early around the strategic imperative shapes the entire diligence process • The need for multidisciplinary expertise across operations, technology, talent and culture • How to identify and address capability gaps without derailing the deal • Why human interaction — not just data — remains essential to uncovering real insight • The importance of integrating post-merger thinking early, with a focus on long-term value creation • How speed, clarity and stakeholder alignment drive better deal outcomes

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The Dealist is your insider’s guide to the world of M&A. This podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, brings you candid conversations with top dealmakers and thought leaders, exploring the trends, challenges and strategies shaping today’s deal landscape. Hosted by journalist Catherine Ford, The Dealist delivers expert perspectives to keep corporate and private equity dealmakers like you ahead of the curve. Explore our INsights blog for more expert analysis and industry trends. https://intralinks.com/insights

Information

  • Creator
    SS&C Intralinks
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Dealist

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