M&A Science

Kison Patel
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M&A Science Podcast

M&A Science, hosted by Kison Patel (Founder & CEO of DealRoom), is your go-to podcast for mastering the art of mergers and acquisitions. Each week, Kison and his expert guests from leading brands like Xerox, FastLap, and Cisco dig deep into real-world M&A strategies, offering actionable insights to optimize your M&A practice. Whether you're an experienced practitioner or new to the field, M&A Science provides practical advice on key topics like sourcing, due diligence, integration, divestitures, and more. With over 300 episodes, this podcast is the premier thought leadership resource designed to streamline your deal-making process. Start listening today and visit mascience.com/podcast to access over 300 episodes. Brought to you by DealRoom, the leading M&A optimization platform used by the best M&A teams around the world

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Insights on Portfolio Rebalancing in M&A

    Gregg Albert, Managing Partner - Corporate Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions at Accenture (NYSE: ACN)    Companies are facing immense pressure to stay agile, seize new opportunities, and maintain a competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving business environment. One key strategy to achieve this is portfolio rebalancing, a critical initiative that helps businesses optimize their asset mix and drive sustainable growth.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gregg Albert, Managing Director of Corporate Strategy M&A at Accenture, discusses in-depth, what is portolio rebalancing and how it could help your company.   Things you will learn:   • The difference between an opinionated shareholder and an activist investor • Companies that attract activist investors • How to approach portfolio rebalancing • Addressing integration bottlenecks • The challenges of divestitures in portfolio rebalancing   ******************* This episode is sponsored by DealRoom AI, the latest innovation from DealRoom designed specifically for M&A professionals. DealRoom AI automates the analysis and extraction of key information from due diligence documents, empowering teams to save up to 80% of their time on document analysis and focus on what really matters—closing the deal.  Ready to streamline your M&A process? Visit dealroom.net today.   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 08:57 The importance of portfolio rebalancing 11:56 The broader scope of portfolio rebalancing 14:56 Evolving perspectives on portfolio rebalancing: activist investors 16:56 The difference between an opinionated shareholder and an activist 19:11 Companies that attract activist investors 21:38 How to approach portfolio rebalancing 26:24 Key stages in M&A transactions 29:38 Addressing integration bottlenecks 32:34 The challenges of divestitures in portfolio rebalancing 35:21 Portfolio rebalancing example 39:57 How influence works in the boardroom 42:21 How to be an activist investor 44:32 Defending against shareholder activism 47:02 Audience Q&A 47:43 Characteristics of companies with a strong M&A muscle 49:31 Challenges faced by companies with a weaker M&A muscle 51:09 The importance of prioritizing capital allocation in M&A 54:40 Portfolio rebalancing in private equity-owned businesses 58:14 Carve-outs in private equity portfolios 1:00:15 Understanding wargaming in strategic planning 1:04:15 Choosing the right advisor for your business needs 1:07:35 Future trends in M&A and portfolio rebalancing 1:09:31 Advice for companies on portfolio management 1:11:46 Craziest thing in M&A

    1h 17m

  2. 16 SEPT

    In-House vs. External Legal Insights in M&A

    Anson Lau, Deputy General Counsel at LONGi Solar (SHA:601012)   In M&A, it’s not just about the deal—it’s about who’s at the table. In-house and external counsel both play key roles in a deal, bringing unique expertise and advantages. Knowing how to strategically utilize both can help you manage risks, secure favorable terms, and ensure smooth post-deal integration.   In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Anson Lau, Deputy General Counsel at LONGi Solar, shares how to play to the strengths of both sides to optimize your M&A approach.   Things you will learn from this episode:   • Balancing in-house and external legal roles • Mindset differences in in-house vs. external counsel • Tactical vs. strategic roles in legal counsel • Risk mitigation: external vs. internal counsel  • Choosing the right external counsel for M&A deals   ******************* This episode is sponsored by DealRoom AI, the latest innovation from DealRoom designed specifically for M&A professionals. DealRoom AI automates the analysis and extraction of key information from due diligence documents, empowering teams to save up to 80% of their time on document analysis and focus on what really matters—closing the deal.  Ready to streamline your M&A process? Visit dealroom.net today.   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:15 Balancing in-house and external legal roles 08:59 The intensity of external legal work 10:06 Mindset differences in in-house vs. external counsel 12:56 Tactical vs. strategic roles in legal counsel 15:54 Understanding negotiation perspectives 20:56 Risk mitigation: external vs. internal counsel 23:47 Cross-functional collaboration in risk mitigation 28:19 Assessing law firm culture 29:34 Best and worst-case scenario of M&A deals 36:15 Choosing the right external counsel for M&A deals 39:36 Building relationships with legal counsel for future M&A deals 42:57 Managing diligence: pre-term sheet vs. post-term sheet 45:45 Identifying red flags before signing the LOI 48:27 Collaborating with internal stakeholders pre-LOI vs post-LOI 54:46 The Impact of AI on the legal profession 58:29 Craziest thing in M&A

    1h 2m

  3. 9 SEPT

    The Role of CEO in M&A

    Kevin Lynch, CEO and Board Member at Optiv   Beyond the boardroom battles and billion-dollar deals, mergers and acquisitions present a unique set of challenges and opportunities for CEOs. From strategic planning to post-merger integration, it takes essential skills and qualities for CEOs to excel in this high-stakes arena.   In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Kevin Lynch, CEO and Board Member at Optiv, shares his invaluable insights on the role of a CEO and what it takes to lead a company through successful M&A endeavors.   Things you will learn from this episode:   • Balancing market share and capability in M&A decisions • Crafting a strategic integration thesis • When to communicate your vision for the acquisition • The isolation of the CEO role • Driving speed and growth with battle rhythm and clear expectations   ******************* Experience the M&A event of the year and gain actionable insights to scale your M&A practice. Register now for the Fall M&A Science Fair here.   This episode is sponsored by 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://dealroom.net   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:26 Defining the CEO’s role in M&A 09:49 Shaping the M&A strategy 14:26 Balancing market share and capability in M&A decisions 16:13 Navigating imperfect M&A fits 19:42 Crafting a strategic integration thesis 22:18 When to communicate your vision for the acquisition 28:01 The fundamentals of capital allocation 33:59 Managing complexities in leadership 36:47 Communicating the capital allocation approach 40:41 The isolation of the CEO role 43:10 Fostering cultural fit and addressing cultural concerns 48:04 Evaluating culture during executive conversations 51:39 Convincing companies to sell 1:00:08 Driving speed and growth with battle rhythm and clear expectations 1:03:43 Challenges and best practices in M&A 1:11:28 Craziest Thing in M&A

    1h 15m

  4. 2 SEPT

    How to Execute Successful M&A as a CEO

    Sanjay Poonen, CEO & President of Cohesity   M&A isn't just about signing a deal and popping the champagne. Every CEO knows the entire process is a minefield of cultural clashes, integration headaches, and occasional unexpected challenges that could blow up your strategy. But while M&A can be a high-stakes game, it’s also one that can be mastered with the right playbook.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we’re diving into key strategies CEOs should consider to ensure M&A success, featuring Sanjay Poonen, CEO & President of Cohesity.   Things you will learn in this episode:   • The CEO’s approach to M&A integration • Key considerations in sourcing deals • Best practices for managing large-scale acquisitions • The impact of market timing on acquisition strategy   ******************* Experience the M&A event of the year and gain actionable insights to scale your M&A practice. Register now for the Fall M&A Science Fair here.   This episode is sponsored by 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://dealroom.net   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 04:06 Exploring high-impact M&A deals 05:33 Shaping the M&A strategy 07:16 Expanding and innovating through acquisitions 11:18 The CEO’s approach to M&A integration 20:08 Key considerations in sourcing deals 25:25 Cultivating cultural alignment 29:42 Convincing companies to do an M&A deal 36:51 Maintaining key relationships 38:36 Best practices for managing large-scale acquisitions 40:38 Strategic considerations for a global expansion 41:37 The right timing for announcing deals 43:35 The impact of market timing on acquisition strategy 44:53 Advice for CEOs on preparing for a successful IPO post-acquisition 46:47 Craziest thing in M&A

    51 min

  5. 26 AUG

    Dynamic Portfolio Strategy: Rebalancing Using Divestitures

    Jerome Combes-Knoke, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Dotmatics (Insight Partners)   Strategic focus is a prerequisite to strong corporate performance.  Yet, without proactive efforts to maintain focus, companies can “drift” and become weighed down by misaligned business units.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jerome Combes-Knoke,  Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Dotmatics (a portfolio company of Insight Partners), shares his broad M&A experience and presents his approach to portfolio strategy and rebalancing through divestitures.   Things you will learn in this episode:   • Strategic focus on acquisitions, using Dotmatics’ approach. • Portfolio rebalancing and its challenges • Evaluating divestiture candidates • Building internal alignment for divestitures • Best practices for managing key risks   ******************* Experience the M&A event of the year and gain actionable insights to scale your M&A practice. Register now for the Fall M&A Science Fair here.   This episode is sponsored by 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://dealroom.net   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:17 Approaching deals in a software-oriented environment 10:11 Preserving brand integrity in M&A go-to-market strategies 12:43 Approaching valuation 15:16 Strategic pitch for acquisitions 20:41 Portfolio rebalancing and its challenges 25:25 When and how to rebalance a company’s portfolio 27:29 Getting buy-in and alignment from the board and key stakeholders 33:24 Key factors in considering divestitures 36:26 Executing a divestiture for portfolio rebalancing 39:09 Best practices in executing divestitures 43:12 Divestiture success metrics 46:29 Example of portfolio rebalancing and its challenges 53:20 Craziest thing in M&A

    45 min

  6. 19 AUG

    How to Run a Successful Cultural Integration

    Court Carruthers, President and CEO at TricorBraun   Cultural integration is the often overlooked key to long-term M&A success. It's about creating a shared identity, values, and purpose that unites employees from different backgrounds. When done right, it can transform a merger from a transactional event into a strategic partnership.   In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Court Carruthers, President and CEO at TricorBraun, shares his insights on how to successfully integrate two cultures and build a stronger, unified organization.   Things you will learn in the episode:   • The importance of cultural integration in M&A • The role of culture in M&A and business strategy • Approaching cultural diligence • Identifying culture fit in an auction • Best practices for M&A integration   *******************   This episode is sponsored by 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://dealroom.net   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:53 The importance of cultural integration in M&A 05:18 Academic research on cultural integration in M&A 07:32 The role of culture in M&A and business strategy 09:04 A unique M&A strategy focused on family businesses 10:23 Integration strategies for acquired businesses 14:04 Building relationships and structuring deals for long-term success 16:36 Approaching cultural diligence 18:16 Identifying culture fit in an auction 21:46 Assessing cultural fit in M&A 24:20 Walking away from a deal due to cultural differences 26:34 Red flags in cultural fit between LOI and closing 33:05 Building an organization for successful acquisitions 35:19 The importance of seamless handoffs 38:13 Keeping stakeholders comfortable during transitions 40:57 The biggest challenge in dealing with culture 43:02 Best practices for M&A integration 46:25 Working with private equity partners for long-term growth 48:54 Good vs. bad partnerships with PE Firms 50:34 Advice for corporate development practitioners 54:48 Why culture in M&A is important 55:32 Craziest thing in M&A

    1h 1m

  7. 12 AUG

    Unlocking New M&A Strategies: Uniting Venture Capital Insights and Public Equities in M&A

    Thomas Le, Vice President, Corporate Development at Ziff Davis, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZD)   The M&A landscape is constantly evolving, making it difficult to predict future trends and identify new opportunities. How can companies maintain a competitive advantage? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Thomas Le, Vice President of Corporate Development at Ziff Davis, Inc., shares his VC-backed strategies for unlocking new M&A strategies.   Things you will learn in this episode:   • Strategic networking for building a pipeline • The Reverse Coverage method for building a pipeline • How to craft effective cold outreach emails • Integrating the Mosaic theory into M&A strategy   *******************   This episode of the M&A Science Podcast is brought to you by Insight. In today’s rapidly evolving business world, staying ahead means embracing change and leveraging technology to not just meet but exceed your strategic goals. That’s where Insight comes in. Insight is a comprehensive solutions integrator that helps organizations transform technology, operations, and service delivery to future-proof the business and innovate. With a client-focused approach to delivery, they combine the power of people and technology to turn the biggest challenges into opportunities. Learn more at insight.com/leave-legacy.    *******************   This episode is also sponsored by 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://dealroom.net   ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:40 Venture capital experience in M&A 13:18 Strategic networking for building a pipeline 18:31 Making an effective initial outreach 19:21 How to craft effective cold outreach emails 23:24 Assessing product market fit 29:01 Strategic thinking and culture fit 32:41 Unlocking new M&A strategies 36:02 Leveraging bankers in M&A deals 38:07 Applying the Mosaic theory to M&A due diligence 47:31 Embedding M&A into corporate culture 48:50 Transitioning from public equities and venture capital to M&A 1:07:04 Craziest thing in M&A

    1h 12m

  8. 5 AUG

    How to Execute a Balanced M&A Integration

    Karen Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress Achieving exponential growth through M&A requires more than signing agreements. It’s about balancing cultures, systems, and people. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Karen Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress, provides a roadmap for a balanced M&A integration.   Things you will also learn from this episode: • Side effects of a forceful integration • Information crucial to Integration planning • Measuring integration success • Biggest challenges when executing an integration • What is vendor rationalization?   ****************** This episode of the M&A Science Podcast is brought to you by Insight. In today’s rapidly evolving business world, staying ahead means embracing change and leveraging technology to not just meet but exceed your strategic goals. That’s where Insight comes in. Insight is a comprehensive solutions integrator that helps organizations transform technology, operations, and service delivery to future-proof the business and innovate. With a client-focused approach to delivery, they combine the power of people and technology to turn the biggest challenges into opportunities. Learn more at insight.com/leave-legacy.  *******************  This episode is also sponsored by 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://dealroom.net ****************** Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 08:07 Importance of balanced integration 09:41 Side effects of a forceful integration 13:16 When to involve the integration lead 17:12 Information crucial to Integration planning 20:06 Integration lead’s role during diligence 21:35 Balancing integration execution 26:27 Working with the seller 29:22 Realization versus timeline 32:42 What makes integration successful 35:42 Tips for effective communication 41:49 Creating and refining M&A Playbooks 43:18 Ensuring a positive employee experience 52:32 Measuring integration success 55:26 Biggest challenges when executing an integration 58:09 What is vendor rationalization 1:01:21 Craziest thing in M&A

    1h 7m
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About

M&A Science, hosted by Kison Patel (Founder & CEO of DealRoom), is your go-to podcast for mastering the art of mergers and acquisitions. Each week, Kison and his expert guests from leading brands like Xerox, FastLap, and Cisco dig deep into real-world M&A strategies, offering actionable insights to optimize your M&A practice. Whether you're an experienced practitioner or new to the field, M&A Science provides practical advice on key topics like sourcing, due diligence, integration, divestitures, and more. With over 300 episodes, this podcast is the premier thought leadership resource designed to streamline your deal-making process. Start listening today and visit mascience.com/podcast to access over 300 episodes. Brought to you by DealRoom, the leading M&A optimization platform used by the best M&A teams around the world

Information

  • Creator
    Kison Patel
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2024
  • Episodes
    316
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    M&A Science

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