M&A Science Podcast

Losing key people is one of the most significant value leaks post-close. Acquirers must focus on the employee experience to retain as many employees as possible. This episode will discuss how to execute a people-focused integration featuring Marilyne H. O'Hara, Global Head of M&A Integration at Block.

Acquiring startups is a common strategy employed by large companies to drive growth and innovation. However, preserving the unique qualities and strengths of startups within the framework of a larger corporation can prove challenging. In this interview, Nadia Gil, Chief of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development at Brady Corporation, offers insight into how to effectively preserve startups during the acquisition process.

Corporate development teams are responsible for finding attractive targets. However, companies can execute successful mergers and acquisitions without corporate development. In this episode, we explore insights provided by Michael Farlekas, the CEO at E2open, who has executed 14 deals without a dedicated corporate development team.

Day one in M&A is a critical juncture for both the acquiring company and the target company. This is the day when the deal is officially closed and the two companies become one entity. Day one involves a lot of planning and coordination between the two companies to ensure a smooth transition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Chris Evans, former Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon, discusses setting up M&A integration day one for success.

As the business world shifts towards a more environmentally and socially conscious approach, the significance of sustainability in M&A has become increasingly prominent. In light of this, companies are now considering the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives of their target companies before making any acquisitions. In this article, we explore how to perform M&A due diligence on sustainability, with insights from Sarah Thuo, Chief Operating Officer of IBM Sustainability Services.

M&A is a game-changing tool that can propel a company's growth several years ahead of schedule. However, for hyper-growth companies, M&A can also be a double-edged sword that leads to attrition and detracts from the core business objectives. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael Nov, Head of Corporate Development & Chief of Staff to the CTO at OwnBackup, discusses setting up M&A for hyper-growth companies.

The go-to-market (GTM) integration strategy has a large impact on revenue generation and overall deal success. Integration can be very disruptive to the customers, but if done right, it can enhance the customer experience and acquisition results. In this 2 part episode of the M&A Science podcast, Pat Belotti, VP Corporate Development Integration at Zendesk, continues to discuss the evolution of M&A integration and delves into the intricacies of GTM integration and offers valuable insights on how to approach it.

M&A integration in tech has changed quite a bit over the last twenty years. Integration has evolved from integration volunteers, to large teams with detailed tracking, to dedicated teams and Agile approaches. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pat Belotti, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Zendesk, delves into the evolution of M&A integration.

Acquisitions present unique challenges, but deal lifecycle processes can still be optimized for efficiency. Timeliness is a crucial factor in M&A, and the quicker a deal closes and integration is completed, the faster deal synergies can be achieved. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Windy Nicholson, the Technology Leader for Mergers and Acquisitions at Salesforce, discusses how to improve an IMO for efficiency.

Managing a deal from start to finish requires a strategic approach and the ability to navigate the nuances of each phase. In this 2-part episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andy Wijaya, Senior Director, M&A at KLA, talks about managing the entire M&A process from start to finish, and dives deep into key stages of acquisition.

Managing the multi-faceted process of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be a daunting task, especially for those in charge of overseeing the entire process. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andy Wijaya, Senior Director of M&A at KLA, discusses how to manage deals from strategy to closing.

Acquisitions are not the only way companies can achieve growth. Partnerships are a great way for organizations to grow their organic growth capabilities. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Yvanna Perez-Morel, former Sr. Director of Corporate Development at Ulta Beauty

Establishing strong connections with a target company is essential in M&A. Securing deals can be challenging, but a strategic approach can result in mutually beneficial outcomes. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital, shares his approach to deal-making from first conversations to LOI.

In order for an M&A process to be successful, there must be effective governance in place. Governance is used to manage risks, and ensure that key stakeholders are well-informed and able to provide appropriate oversight throughout a transaction. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Guy Fisher, Head of Corporate Development at Suncorp Group, shares his expertise in setting M&A governance up for efficiency.

Acquiring a company is complex and challenging, and in some instances, unnecessary. If buyers only need the people inside of a target company, they can do an acquihire instead of a traditional acquisition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Thomas Gorman, former Strategy & Corporate Development at Pantheon Platform, and Mark Khavkin, former CFO at Pantheon Platform, discusses executing acquihires.

In recent years, there has been a surge in using reps & warranty insurance in M&A, especially in private deals. This episode will discuss how to approach reps and warranties insurance, featuring Josh Holleman, Partner at Cooley LLP.

Before buyers and sellers agree to an LOI, there are many informal conversations that happen in the background. Buyers must carefully approach any informal conversations to avoid turning a buyer off while still securing the deal. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ken Bond, former Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, discusses the key things to consider from first conversations to LOI in M&A.

Today, more than 20 reps and warranty insurance companies exist. And unlike before, they are now willing to cover the entire suite of reps and warranties to replace the indemnification provisions in a traditional purchase agreement. So are they worth it? Should buyers consider reps and warranty insurance on all their deals? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gitanjali Pundir, Vice President, Global Corporate Development and M&A at Visa, discusses reps and warranties insurance from a business perspective.

Deal origination requires a well-planned strategy, and starts with informal conversations with a potential target. In this episode, Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress, discusses what happens behind the scenes between the first conversation to LOI in M&A.

Executing acquisitions without a dedicated function is highly inefficient and results in failed deals. Companies should not purely rely on inbound opportunities, and need strategic teams dedicated to sourcing deals. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Veena Ramaswamy, former Head of Corporate Development at Lemonade, discusses how to create a corporate development function.

M&A is an excellent tool for growing a company. Still, acquirers should consider a variety of strategies before committing to a transaction. Choosing the right growth approach also dictates any integration plans. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Rohit Dave, Head of Corporate Development at Block, discusses executing various M&A strategies and how to get buy-in from leadership.

The integration stage of the deal lifecycle is when teams can achieve a transaction's desired synergies. In this episode, Cara Bibbiani, Senior Director, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, discusses how to efficiently execute M&A Integration.

Standing up a corporate development function from scratch is a challenging, yet exciting task. And one of the pillars of a successful M&A function is a solid team who can effectively run deals. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kevin Barnes, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Premier, discusses how to create an M&A team structure

Corporate development and integration roles consist of different responsibilities. Yet, understanding both roles can help practitioners become more effective at deal execution. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kerry Perez, Head of Enterprise Strategy at AMN Healthcare, discusses her M&A career path and how to transition roles in M&A, during which she experienced a variety of roles.

Integrating an acquired company is always challenging. Acquirers must execute quickly and efficiently, navigate changes, and preserve the target company's value. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Caroline Jones, Senior Director - Acquisition Success at Cisco, discusses how to accelerate M&A integration.