M&A Advisor Podcast

M&A Advisor
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The M&A Advisor Podcast aims to shine a light on the many outstanding Thought Leaders and members of The M&A Advisor, empowers young entrepreneurs and M&A professionals to stay informed about industry trends, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, investment banking, and finance strategies, and provides valuable insights and actionable ideas to inspire them. Official Website https://www.maadvisor.com/ Join our Newsletter https://maadvisor.com/maalerts/subscribe/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-m&a-advisor/ M&A TV https://www.youtube.com/user/Maadvisor/

  1. Current Trends in Restructuring : A fireside chat from the 2026 Distressed Investing Summit

    2d ago

    Current Trends in Restructuring : A fireside chat from the 2026 Distressed Investing Summit

    No industry is safe and no company is safe. In this candid panel, a real estate advisor, an investment banker, an independent director, and a restructuring attorney break down what is actually driving distress right now: post Covid hangovers masked by cheap credit, tariff and AI uncertainty, the war in Iran, and a wave of liability management deals that increasingly end in lender on lender litigation. They demystify the LME toolkit, debate whether out of court really saves money, and share war stories, including a liquidation that turned into a SpaceX bidding war. In this episode: Why distress is no longer industry specific, and what is fueling itPost Covid pain masked by additional credit, now colliding with higher ratesSponsors who bought at the Covid bump on six to seven times leverageOut of court vs. chapter 11, and why professional fees are back in focusLender on lender violence and the rise of pre bankruptcy litigationWhy pre packs now confirm in 20 days, and why it is still expensiveMediation: how even the most contentious cases settle 95% of the timeThe liability management toolkit explained: up tiers, drop downs, Pari plus, double dipsJ.Crew, blockers in credit agreements, and workarounds that evolve in real timeWhat makes an LME successful even when the company eventually filesThe board seat: managing sponsors, lenders, and management as their shrinkA case study: Akoustis, a patent suit, a liquidation bid, and a SpaceX rescueWhy private credit lenders need to act like owners, not just lendersThe 12 month outlook: healthcare, education, EdTech, media, consumer, retail Chapters: 00:01 Intro01:10 Setting up the panel01:45 No industry is safe: LMEs and lender on lender violence04:19 Out of court conditions tied to new money05:58 What is driving distress: consumer, tariffs, rates07:22 Covid bump buyers and broken math08:14 The debt load and the year ahead10:02 Trustees, mediators, and the cost of staying out12:42 Why parties push deals to 11:59 pm17:56 Liability management explained21:18 Good code, bad code, and preference risk22:58 How to define a successful LME24:37 Board case study: Akoustis and the SpaceX auction26:39 Defining success in chapter 1129:39 The 12 month outlook31:09 Private credit lenders acting like owners35:55 Stressed sectors to watch The panel: Andy Graiser, Co President and Co COO, A&G Real Estate PartnersScott Mates, Partner, Restructuring and Special Situations Americas, PJT PartnersMatthew Kahn, Manager, MrsaKahn IIMichael D. Sirota, Member and Co Chair of Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring, Cole SchotzHost: Roger Aguinaldo, Founder and CEO, The M&A Advisor Follow The Advisor Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and subscribe to the M&A Alerts newsletter. #Restructuring #LiabilityManagement #DistressedDebt #Bankruptcy #PrivateCredit #MergersAndAcquisitions #DealMaking

    40 min
  2. Running the Business While Selling It: Preserving Value in a Distressed M&A Process

    6d ago

    Running the Business While Selling It: Preserving Value in a Distressed M&A Process

    A fireside chat from the 2026 Distressed Investing Summit (Deal Forum, Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, FL). When a business hits distress, the panic is immediate. Nobody knows how much cash is left, who's in charge, or what they owe. In this candid panel, a CRO, an investment banker, a private equity buyer, and a restructuring attorney break down how to keep a company running while you sell it, and how to find the value hidden inside a struggling business. They cover the psychology of displaced management, why "go find a buyer" is often the wrong first move, and the real case where they cut 90% of customers and still extended runway by 30 days. In this episode: Why every distressed situation is paced by liquidityThe psychology of parachuting in and why management fears the CROGetting independent directors, bankers, and a CRO in without breaking trustThe case study: shrinking a customer base by 90% to maximize asset valueGetting discontinued customers to fund 30 extra days of the sale processWhy restructuring the balance sheet without fixing P&L and liquidity failsLogo chasing vs. contribution margin, the KPI missing from the deckHow fiduciary duty shifts from equity value to employees when checks stopWhen a banker says no, and why good bankers now decline dealsSale process vs. new value plan vs. sponsor keeping the equityWhat a distressed buyer actually looks for in a business with hair on itBuying the debt, credit bidding, and partnering with secured lendersChapter 11 vs. Article 9 vs. receivership vs. 363, and why Ch. 11 is often the worst outcome for a buyerOut of court math: payables, change of control contracts, and net to the houseAudience Q&A: assessing incumbent management in week one, and the remote work red flag Chapters: 00:01 Setting the stage: panic, cash blindness, fiduciary confusion01:56 Getting a CRO or FA in when lenders drive the bus06:28 The psychology of parachuting in07:35 Case study: value in the footprint and assets, not EBITDA09:53 Firing 90% of customers and funding 30 extra days12:50 Why the third restructuring was needed14:45 Logo chasing vs. margin KPIs15:56 Fiduciary duty when you stop cutting checks22:42 Why bankers decline deals26:35 What a distressed buyer looks for29:30 Chapter 11 vs. Article 9 vs. receivership vs. 36333:50 Q&A: management is not a bystander37:24 The remote work red flag The panel: Sandeep Gupta, Managing Partner, Novo AdvisorsMike Ragano, Partner, Novo AdvisorsGeoffrey Richards, Co-Head of Capital Structure Advisory, Raymond JamesBrian McGee, Managing Partner, New Water CapitalRob Dehney Sr., Partner, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & TunnellHost: Roger Aguinaldo, Founder and CEO, The M&A Advisor Follow The Advisor Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and subscribe to the M&A Alerts newsletter. #DistressedMA #Restructuring #PrivateEquity #Turnaround #MergersAndAcquisitions #DealMaking

    39 min
  3. Protecting Private Credit Deals: Pre-Transaction Safeguards And Post-Transaction Recovery Strategies

    Jun 19

    Protecting Private Credit Deals: Pre-Transaction Safeguards And Post-Transaction Recovery Strategies

    The private credit market has exploded — and so has the risk hiding inside it. 12% of private credit loans are now PIK. 40% of borrowers have negative cash flow. And $700 billion was raised in just the last two years alone. In this Fireside Chat from the M&A Advisor's 2026 Distressed Investing Summit, a powerhouse panel breaks down how lenders can protect themselves before a deal goes sideways — and what to do when it does. From structural protections and board governance to chasing a $50M superyacht across three continents, this episode covers the full playbook. 🎙️ Protecting Private Credit Deals: Pre-Transaction Safeguards and Post-Transaction Recovery Strategies📍 Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, Florida🏛️ Deal Forum | 2026 Distressed Investing Summit SHOW NOTES: Episode: Protecting Private Credit Deals — Pre-Transaction Safeguards and Post-Transaction Recovery StrategiesEvent: Deal Forum — 2026 Distressed Investing Summit | Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, FLHost: Steven G. Kobre, Co-Founder & Lawyer, Kobre & Kim Panelists: Andrew Rabinowitz — President & General Counsel, Arena Investors; former GC, 26North; two decades at Marathon Asset ManagementHadley Ma — Founder & Managing Partner, Ferghana Investment Partners; former Head of Originations & Underwriting, MCG Investment GroupJeff Marwil — Founder, Ocean Boulevard Strategic Advisors; 37 years in corporate restructuring and Chapter 11; former Co-Head of Bankruptcy & Restructuring, ProskauerJef Klazen — Partner, Kobre & Kim; international asset and judgment enforcementWhat You'll Learn: The Warning Signs: PIK loans doubled in five years. Borrowers with negative cash flow jumped from 25% to 40%. Semi-liquid funds went from 6% to 53% of the market. $700B raised in two years into a market that was $350B a decade ago. The stress is structural. Underwriting That Holds Up: Strong collateral, revenue predictability, and recession-resilient sectors matter. But two things are chronically underweighted — underwriting the exit from day one, and securing a real secondary source of repayment. Operationalizing Protection: Ferghana takes read-only access to all borrower bank accounts at inception, plus passwords in escrow for IP and other assets. The goal: no scrambling when a restructuring starts. The Board Seat Debate: Private credit is the new private equity — one rung up the capital structure. If you can't get an independent director at inception, it should trigger automatically at default. Pre-approve a slate of 3–5 names in the loan documents so you're not fighting over it when things go bad. The Lottery Ticket Problem: Distressed equity wants to gamble their last dollar. The lender wants it preserved. The independent director bridges that gap — making decisions in the company's best interests under the business judgment rule. Red Flags & Asset Transfers: Founders quietly move assets to spouses and children months before a default. One guarantor disclosed a $50M superyacht — but it was owned by a Cayman entity, then transferred to his spouse. Kobre & Kim tracked it to Italy and locked it down. In another case, bank statements were outright doctored. Lesson: trust but verify, early. The Outlook: $90 trillion in global financing needs over the next decade. Europe is 5–10 years behind. More defaults mean more opportunity — for those positioned to move. Connect: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | editor@maadvisor.com | maadvisor.com

    42 min
  4. Risk & Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life

    Jun 19

    Risk & Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life

    What does it take to win in the most complex deals on Wall Street — and in life? In this Fireside Chat from the M&A Advisor's 2026 Distressed Investing Summit, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross joins Evan Hill, Partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, for a rare and candid conversation drawing from decades of high-stakes dealmaking. Wilbur breaks down the difference between apparent risk and actual risk, why he walked out on Donald Trump mid-negotiation, and what today's young professionals are getting dangerously wrong. He also shares the three cardinal sins of negotiation — and why credibility is everything at the table. 🎙️ Risks & Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life📍 Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, Florida🏛️ Deal Forum | 2026 Distressed Investing Summit📚 Wilbur Ross's book available now SHOW NOTES: Episode: Risks & Returns — Creating Success in Business and LifeEvent: Deal Forum — 2026 Distressed Investing Summit | Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach, FLHost: The M&A Advisor | Roger Arnaldo Guests: Wilbur Ross — Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce; legendary distressed investor; author of Risks & Returns: Creating Success in Business and LifeEvan Hill — Partner, Corporate Practice, Cravath, Swaine & MooreWhat You'll Learn: Relationships: All business begins with a sale. Wilbur reflects on the mentors who shaped his career and why he wrote his book — to push back against a generation of young professionals with "fragile personalities" and low risk appetite. Apparent vs. Actual Risk: The real edge isn't access to information — it's interpretation. What separates top investors is spotting the gap between perceived and actual risk. "Apparent risk you get paid for." Being a generalist made Wilbur dependent on specialists, and that dependence became a competitive strength. The "Loser's Mentality": The hardest challenge in any turnaround is getting boards to replace the management that caused the bankruptcy. Distressed managers always blame outside forces — unions, China, regulators — and never themselves. Fresh leadership with industry-specific experience is often the single biggest lever. Negotiation — The Cardinal Sins: Know your floor and the other side's hot buttons. Whoever is most willing to walk away wins. Start with easy points to build momentum. Never bluff — once called, you lose all credibility. Never lie. Never renege. The Trump Taj Mahal Story: Wilbur was hired to recover losses on defaulted casino bonds trading at $0.20. Trump opened by saying bondholders should "just accept the $0.20." After hours of no movement, Wilbur walked out — using Trump's own pressure tactics against him. Months of negotiation followed. By October, a chapter 11 filing threat finally closed the deal. His mother called afterward, furious he'd made a deal with Trump — and never forgave him for not becoming a lawyer. For the Next Generation: Every successful entrepreneur has failed. The ones who make it learn from the failure and find another path. A laundromat that failed in three months led its founder to pivot to generic pharmaceuticals — and straight onto the Forbes 400. Book: Risks & Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life by Wilbur Ross Connect: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | editor@maadvisor.com | maadvisor.com

    33 min
  5. Governance Under Pressure: Protecting Value in Complex M&A Transactions

    Apr 25

    Governance Under Pressure: Protecting Value in Complex M&A Transactions

    Boards, founders, and deal teams are moving faster than ever—but speed without structure can derail even the strongest transaction. In this episode, Tonya Mitchem Grindon, Shareholder and Chairperson of the Business Department at Baker Donelson, joins Brock Niezgoda, Partner and Corporate/M&A Practice Leader at Gray Reed, and Jonathan Lazarow, Founding Partner of Ambrose Lazarow PLLC, to unpack how corporate governance shapes successful dealmaking. From balancing fiduciary duties with transaction speed to managing conflicts in affiliate and management buyouts, this conversation delivers practical strategies for lower middle market and middle market M&A. Learn how leading advisors structure clean processes, mitigate CFIUS and antitrust risk, navigate activist pressure, and ensure boards fulfill their obligations—without killing momentum. Whether you’re leading a sell-side process, evaluating cross-border buyers, or structuring a complex recapitalization, this episode equips you with governance-first frameworks that protect value pre- and post-close. Watch now to sharpen your edge and visit MAAdvisor.com for more. #MAAdvisor #CorporateGovernance #MiddleMarketM&A [00:01:30] Introducing governance challenges in fast-moving deals [00:02:30] Balancing fiduciary duties with transaction speed [00:04:30] Board involvement vs. management momentum [00:06:00] Managing conflicts in LBOs and management buyouts [00:08:30] Affiliate transactions and separate counsel best practices [00:11:00] CFIUS strategy: voluntary filings and risk mitigation [00:16:00] HSR, antitrust exposure, and clean room protocols [00:18:30] Cross-border regulatory complications beyond the U.S. [00:20:00] Public company SEC disclosure discipline [00:21:30] Shareholder activism and recapitalization pressure [00:24:30] Post-close integration risks and cultural alignment [00:27:30] The Delaware vs. Texas governance evolution [00:29:00] Overcommunication as a governance superpower Subscribe to your definitive daily source for premium transaction news.https://maadvisor.com Connect with our global community of dealmaking professionals.https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-m&a-advisor Follow the latest trends and stories from the industry’s influential figures.https://www.facebook.com/maadvisor Watch master class strategies and exclusive interviews on our official channel.https://www.youtube.com/user/Maadvisor Show Notes

    32 min
  6. 2026 M&A Boom? What Dealmakers Must Know

    Apr 10

    2026 M&A Boom? What Dealmakers Must Know

    In this episode, we sit down with Brent Baxter, CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), to break down what’s really happening in the middle market M&A landscape. From rising deal flow and extended private equity hold periods to the growing role of AI in value creation, Brent shares insider insights backed by decades of experience and data from across the dealmaking ecosystem. We explore why 2026 is shaping up to be a “swell” year for M&A activity, what’s driving renewed momentum, and how investors, operators, and advisors can position themselves for what’s next. Whether you're an investment banker, private equity professional, or aspiring dealmaker, this episode delivers practical insights on navigating today’s evolving market. Guest: Brent BaxterTitle: CEO, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Why 2026 could see a surge in middle market deal activityThe impact of rising private equity hold periods (4 → 6 years)How interest rates and macro uncertainty delayed exitsRecord levels of capital (“dry powder”) driving future dealsThe role of AI in accelerating value creation—not replacing dealmakersSector trends: manufacturing slowdown and recovery signalsHow relationships—not spreadsheets—drive real dealsInside DealMAX: 3,400 attendees and 20,000+ meetingsThe “stair-step” model of private equity exitsCareer advice for young professionals entering M&AMiddle market leads job creation—and PE-backed firms outperformInvestment banking pitch activity is rising sharplyAI is becoming central to operational efficiency and valuation strategyMore capital = more competition = more deal opportunities“Deals happen on relationships.”“2026 will be… swell.”“The one certainty is uncertainty.”

    39 min
  7. Whatever it Takes – How Relentless Strategy and Systematized Processes Secure the Certainty of Close

    Apr 4

    Whatever it Takes – How Relentless Strategy and Systematized Processes Secure the Certainty of Close

    Closing a transaction in today's volatile market requires more than just a willing buyer and seller—it demands a relentless commitment to execution. In this episode, a panel of seasoned experts, including Tom Goldblatt, Derek Swanson, and Steven Nigro reveal the unvarnished truths of getting deals across the finish line.   From managing "deal fatigue" and screaming sellers to building institutional-grade transaction committees, this session provides Founders and PE partners with a sober, evidence-based plan to protect value. Learn how to identify early red flags and systematize your process for high-stakes deal success. Visit maadvisor.com for more insights.  #MAAdvisor #DealExecution #LowerMiddleMarket  Show Notes  [00:01:00] Mastering the art of relentless M&A deal execution strategy.   [00:05:00] Identifying early warning signs and red flags in new engagements.   [00:06:00] Borrowing buy-side best practices via internal transaction committees.   [00:07:00] Using proactive client education to eliminate technical friction.   [00:08:00] Why certainty of close starts at the selection of the deal.   [00:13:00] Managing advisory risk with strategic high retainers on tough deals.   [00:15:00] Systematizing internal processes to empower junior deal team members.   [00:17:00] Maintaining flexibility on non-core points to preserve deal momentum.   [00:23:00] Overcoming due diligence hurdles when records are unorganized.   [00:30:00] Managing the buyer’s cadence during critical exclusivity periods.   [00:33:00] Navigating deal fatigue and the "eleventh-hour screaming seller" crisis.   [00:36:00] Using transparency to manage priorities and meeting commitments.   [00:39:00] Why human relationship building remains irreplaceable by AI in closing.     M&A Alerts: Subscribe to your definitive daily source for premium transaction news. https://maadvisor.com  LinkedIn: Connect with our global community of dealmaking professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-m&a-advisor  Facebook: Follow the latest trends and stories from the industry’s influential figures.  https://www.facebook.com/maadvisor     YouTube: Watch masterclass strategies and exclusive interviews on our official channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/Maadvisor

    40 min
  8. A By-The-Numbers Look at What's Driving M&A: How Mega-Deals and Strategic Divestitures Are Driving a High-Value Market Recovery

    Apr 1

    A By-The-Numbers Look at What's Driving M&A: How Mega-Deals and Strategic Divestitures Are Driving a High-Value Market Recovery

    In a transaction environment defined by regulatory shifts and economic uncertainty, data-driven intelligence is the only path to certainty. Joe Mantone, U.S. Financial Institutions News Desk Manager at S&P Global Market Intelligence, delivers a sober, evidence-based assessment of the 2025 M&A landscape.   This masterclass for Founders, PE partners, and corporate leaders reveals why total global deal value has surged 19% to its highest peak since 2022, even as transaction volume remains flat. Discover the strategic logic behind $10B+ "mega-deals," the trend of conglomerates like Honeywell and Kraft Heinz splitting into pure-play entities, and how Private Equity is deploying massive capital into large-cap targets. Protect your value and stay ahead of market headwinds at maadvisor.com.     #MAAdvisor #DataIntelligence #MegaDeals  Show Notes  [00:01:00] Leveraging S&P Global data to decipher 2025 M&A market trends.  [00:04:00] How high equity valuations and Fed rate cuts fueled early transaction hopes.  [00:05:00] Analyzing the "screeching halt" in deal momentum following tariff announcements.   [00:06:00] Global M&A total value reaches its highest point since 2022.   [00:07:00] The Value Gap: Why deal count is flat while total value rises 19%.   [00:08:00] The rise of $10B+ deals and the $88B Industrials sector breakout.   [00:10:00] Strategic Divestitures: Why Keurig Dr. Pepper and Honeywell are splitting up.  [00:11:00] Private Equity’s focus on large-cap deals to deploy record capital.   [00:19:00] Managing regulatory sidelines and the "snapback" in large-scale transactions.     Subscribe to your definitive daily source for premium transaction news. https://maadvisor.com  Connect with our global community of dealmaking professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-m&a-advisor  Follow the latest trends and stories from the industry’s influential figures.  https://www.facebook.com/maadvisor     Watch masterclass strategies and exclusive interviews on our official channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/Maadvisor

    21 min
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About

The M&A Advisor Podcast aims to shine a light on the many outstanding Thought Leaders and members of The M&A Advisor, empowers young entrepreneurs and M&A professionals to stay informed about industry trends, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, investment banking, and finance strategies, and provides valuable insights and actionable ideas to inspire them. Official Website https://www.maadvisor.com/ Join our Newsletter https://maadvisor.com/maalerts/subscribe/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-m&a-advisor/ M&A TV https://www.youtube.com/user/Maadvisor/

Information

  • Creator
    M&A Advisor
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © M&A Advisor
  • Show Website
    M&A Advisor Podcast

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