Charles Webb, Lead Antitrust Counsel at FedEx (NYSE: FDX)

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, everyone loves to talk about synergies, growth, and market share. However, these enticing prospects can quickly dim if regulatory compliance risks are overlooked. While not the most glamorous aspect of M&A, compliance forms the bedrock that ensures deals are legally sound and smoothly executed.

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Charles Webb, Lead Antitrust Counsel at FedEx, discusses how to manage regulatory compliance risks in M&A.

Things you will learn:

• Different types of regulatory compliance risks in M&A

• Applicability of antitrust framework to companies

• The evolution of antitrust laws

• The importance of avoiding Gun Jumping

• Increased aggressiveness of antitrust regulators

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This episode is sponsored by Grata. Grata is the leading platform for private market dealmaking. With innovative AI and diligence-grade data, Grata makes it easy to find and evaluate targets from the outside looking in. Win more with Grata.

This episode is also 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.

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Episode Timestamps

00:00 Intro

06:40 Different types of regulatory compliance risks in M&A

14:41 Applicability of antitrust framework to companies

20:47 Impact of HSR filing on the deal timeline

22:43 What does the HSR form look like?

24:56 How to land the narrative in a merger

28:25 The Origins of the Sherman Act

29:47 The Magna Carta of Free Enterprise

30:03 Fast forward 1914

30:36 Amendments and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act

31:33 The evolution of antitrust laws

33:47 Risks during the waiting period

39:33 The importance of avoiding Gun Jumping

42:22 Best practices for internal communication during a deal

44:01 Understanding deal review risk in advance

46:11 What happens if a deal is rejected?

50:11 Increased aggressiveness of antitrust regulators

51:41 Real consequences for gun jumping

53:05 Balancing integration planning with gun jumping risks

57:43 The key to preparing for regulatory compliance

58:52 Craziest Thing in M&A

Henry Ward, CEO and Co-founder at Carta

 M&A has become a critical tool for companies to stay competitive in today’s fast-changing market. But success in acquisitions now requires more than just speed—it demands a strategic approach that aligns with long-term goals and adapts to industry shifts.

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Henry Ward, CEO and Co-founder of Carta, shares his insights on how businesses can refine their M&A strategies to thrive in an evolving corporate landscape.

Things you will learn:

• Building the case for actionability

• How to convince founders to sell

• Valuing high-growth companies

• Bounded vs. unbounded acquisitions

• Balancing disciplined acquisitions with opportunistic ventures

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This episode is sponsored by Grata. Grata is the leading platform for private market dealmaking. With innovative AI and diligence-grade data, Grata makes it easy to find and evaluate targets from the outside looking in. Win more with Grata.

This episode is also 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.

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00:00 Intro

06:30 First failed acquisition story

09:13 Lessons learned during early deals

14:06 Building the case for actionability

16:31 Convincing founders to sell

26:06 Valuing high-growth companies

28:26 Bridging valuation gaps

31:48 Acquihires and product tuck-ins

35:39 Bounded vs. unbounded acquisitions

40:40 Lessons from unbounded M&A deals

44:22 Strategic capital allocation

46:33 Evaluating pipelines and allocating resources

48:10 How to make successful Corp Dev team and CEO relationships

50:25 Integration expectations from stakeholders

53:31 Thoughts on international expansion

56:02 Craziest thing in M&A

Camilo Franco, Director of M&A Integration and Operations and Matt Arsenault, VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances at Jamf (NASDAQ: JAMF)

Too often in M&A, diligence and integration operate in separate lanes. Diligence focuses on uncovering risks, while integration is left scrambling to make everything fit once the ink is dry. It’s a classic case of working in silos, and it’s leaving value on the table. But there's a way to break down those barriers from the start.

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Matt Arsenault, VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances at Jamf, and Camilo Franco, Director of M&A Integration and Operations, show us how to transform these silos into synergy by aligning diligence and integration from day one.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Implementing a proactive buyer-led M&A strategy

• Synchronizing diligence and integration planning

• The importance of integration-led diligence

• Building and refining the integration thesis

• Collaborating with sellers to shape a seamless integration plan

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This episode is sponsored by Grata. Grata is the leading platform for private market dealmaking. With innovative AI and diligence-grade data, Grata makes it easy to find and evaluate targets from the outside looking in. Win more with Grata.

This episode is also 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.

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00:00 Intro

04:46 Implementing a proactive buyer-led M&A strategy

06:21 Synchronizing diligence and integration planning

09:12 The importance of integration-led diligence

10:25 Early integration planning pre-LOI

13:05 Building and refining the integration thesis

15:58 Balancing due diligence and integration

19:10 Building confidence in early integration planning

21:53 Collaborating with sellers to shape a seamless integration plan

24:48 Measuring success from diligence to integration

27:44 Balancing aggressive integration goals with realistic expectations

29:59 Balancing AI hype with core business strategy in M&A pipelines

32:04 Best practices for evaluating intangible factors in an acquisition

33:52 Craziest thing in M&A

Jann Lau, Senior Director, Corporate Development at PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL)

A well-crafted deal thesis is the cornerstone of any successful M&A transaction. It outlines the strategic rationale and anticipated value creation from the acquisition. However, a strong thesis alone isn't enough. To ensure the deal delivers on its promise, it's crucial to rigorously validate its assumptions and projections.

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jann Lau, Senior Director of Corporate Development at PayPal, shares key strategies for validating the deal thesis and mitigating risks associated with M&A.

Things you will learn:

• The importance of validating the deal thesis

• The risks of rushing M&A deals without proper alignment

• How to effectively validate a deal thesis

• Who takes the blame in corporate development for a bad deal?

• Other ways to streamline the M&A process

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This episode is sponsored by Spearhead Corp Dev, a leading buy-side advisory firm. Spearhead combines traditional deal origination and advisory with advanced AI to help corporations and mid-market PE firms find and close more off-market deals with certainty. Their approach supercharges proprietary deal flow, providing a greater choice of opportunities. Elevate your deal sourcing by visiting spearheadcorpdev.com.

This episode is also 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.

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Episode Timestamps

00:00 Intro

04:36 The Yahoo! acquisition

09:27 The importance of validating the deal thesis

13:42 The risks of rushing M&A deals without proper alignment

16:25 How to effectively validate a deal thesis

20:55 Example on how to effectively validate a deal thesis

26:29 Risks of not validating the deal thesis

29:42 Crafting a deal thesis 

33:31 Pitching the deal thesis

36:38 Integration as a deal driver

39:47 Who takes the blame in corporate development for a bad deal?

40:53 Key questions to nail down your deal thesis

42:09 Balancing gut instinct and stakeholder buy-in in M&A decisions

44:20 Lessons from deal surprises

46:13 When to walk away from a deal

48:16 Other ways to streamline the M&A process

50:34 Craziest thing 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

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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.

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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

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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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