The Dealist

As AI transforms M&A workflows, what skills will corporate and private equity dealmakers need to succeed, and how will the composition of deal teams change by 2030? In this episode of The Dealist podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks and mandaco, host Catherine Ford is joined by Michael Drill, managing director and head of Germany at Lincoln International, and Jan Pörschmann, partner at atares, to explore how AI is reshaping M&A recruitment, talent development and the skills needed to execute successful transactions.

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According to the 2026 SS&C Intralinks M&A Leaks Report, produced with Bayes Business School, nearly one in 10 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals leaked before its public announcement in 2025. But how does confidential information reach the media, and what can dealmakers do to protect their transactions?

In this episode of The Dealist podcast, presented by SS&C Intralinks, Ed Hammond, founding partner at Collected Strategies and former M&A reporter for Bloomberg and the Financial Times, reveals how journalists uncover confidential transactions and turn fragments of information into market-moving stories.

Drawing on his experience breaking major M&A stories, Ed explores why deals leak, the risks facing cross-border transactions and how companies can respond when sensitive information becomes public.

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Inorganic growth is often essential to achieving business objectives, making M&A a strategic necessity. Yet despite the significant time, capital and resources invested in transactions, nearly half are eventually undone. Why do so many corporate marriages end in divorce, and what can dealmakers do to avoid the same fate?

In this episode of The Dealist, presented by SS&C Intralinks, Henrik Cronqvist, professor of finance at Chapman University, and Désirée-Jessica Pély, CEO of GetAlfa.AI and research associate at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, discuss their research into the behavioral patterns behind failed acquisitions.

Drawing on an analysis of more than 1,500 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions involving S&P 500 companies, they explore why some deals are doomed from the start while others unravel because of unforeseen market disruptions. They also examine the role of corporate culture, executive overconfidence and fear of missing out (FOMO) in M&A decision-making.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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