The Dealist

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

Key topics discussed

Further reading

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:

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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.

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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.

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:

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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.

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If you want a clear, insider view of what separates a good IPO from a great one, this episode delivers.

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Further reading

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.

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Cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) dealmaking is back on the agenda — even as geopolitical tension and regulatory scrutiny remain high. In this episode of The Dealist podcast, Jannan Crozier, partner and global head of M&A at Baker McKenzie, shares what’s driving renewed optimism and how dealmakers can navigate the evolving landscape.

The discussion explores how stabilizing interest rates, private equity dry powder, supply chain shifts and shareholder activism are fueling activity across regions. It also unpacks the growing complexity of foreign direct investment (FDI) regimes and what it takes to structure deals that can withstand heightened scrutiny.

Key themes include:

• Why optimism is returning to cross-border M&A

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Further reading

In the first episode of Season 3 of The Dealist podcast, we're joined by Liam Stoker (Market Insights Lead, Reuters) and Todd Partridge (SVP of Marketing, SS&C Intralinks) to break down what’s shaping M&A as dealmakers look ahead to 2026.

Drawing on fresh market data and real-world perspectives from the H1 2026 Global Dealmakers Sentiment Report, the conversation focuses on where M&A momentum is building, where risks remain and opportunities exist, and how corporate and private equity dealmakers are adapting to geopolitical turmoil.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

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GenAI has moved from buzz to real utility — and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is on the edge of its next big shift. In the Season 2 finale of The Dealist podcast, host Catherine Ford talks with Austin Corbett of Accenture and Jon Martin of SS&C Intralinks about the early signals of what’s coming, from the rise of agentic AI and smarter diligence workflows to the long-term potential for a digital twin that mirrors the entire deal process in near-real time.

Listen to learn:

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Timestamps

0:45 Introductions

In this episode of The Dealist, we're joined once again by Professor Scott Moeller, founder and director of the M&A Research Centre at Bayes Business School, City, University of London, and former global head of corporate development at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank.

We discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from the classroom to the boardroom — and how dealmakers at every stage of their career can build AI confidence and capability.

Listen to learn:

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Further reading