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...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 310
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 • M...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 309
Successful M&A is more than just closing deals. To drive growth and achieve strategic goals, companies must have a deep understanding of the process and a clear strategy. Strategic acquisitions are key to unlocking growth, innovation, and market expansion. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Fred Heller, VP of Nuance, Corporate Development and Integration at Microsoft, shares his experience on how to transform a company through strategic acquisitions. Things you will also learn from this...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 308
Tom Hearn, VP, Architecture at Insight In the world of M&A, understanding and managing technical debt is crucial for seamless technology integration. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we’ll explore the concept of technical debt, its impact on IT infrastructure, and strategies for better integration with Tom Hearn, VP, Architecture at Insight. Things you will learn in this episode: • Technology Integration • AI and machine learning • ERP migration • Synergy assumptions • Working with In...
Jul 22, 2024•53 min•Ep. 307
Pablo von Siebenthal, Global Head of M&A at Swissport The global landscape offers exciting growth opportunities that make business expansion a strategic move. M&A can be a powerful tool for this, but global deals often come with cultural complexities and regulatory intricacies that require a strategic approach. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pablo von Siebenthal, Global Head of M&A at Swissport, talks about how to handle global M&A. Things you will also learn from this episode: • Ch...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 306
Wolfgang Schenk, VP of M&A at Belden Opportunistic M&A can lead to bad acquisitions that don’t align with the company’s overall strategic goals. This creates a disjointed portfolio and integration challenges that could cause massive value leaks. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Wolfgang Schenk, VP of M&A at Belden, discusses the art of executing programmatic M&A to increase chances of M&A success. Things you will learn in this episode: • Benefits of programmatic M&A • Required team fo...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 305
Tobias Gwisdalla, Head of Group M&A at GEA Group ( G 1A:FRA) Transformative M&A is becoming increasingly critical in today's business landscape, especially for industries facing significant regulatory and market pressures. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to execute transformative M&A to change business models, featuring Tobias Gwisdalla, Head of Group M&A at GEA Group. Things you will learn in this episode: • Transformative M&A • Employee unions • Biggest challeng...
Jul 01, 2024•49 min•Ep. 304
M&A processes can vary from country to country, making cross-border deals extremely challenging. Understanding the cultural differences is crucial for a smooth transaction. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we focus on how to do M&A deals in Germany, featuring Frank Tepper-Sawicki , Partner, Corporate M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital at Dentons. Things you will learn: • How dealmaking is different in Germany • Structuring Deals in Germany • Letter of Intent in Germany • Priorit...
Jun 24, 2024•44 min•Ep. 303
Artificial Intelligence has taken the world by storm, and there seems to be no way of stopping it. Every industry in the world has adopted AI, and M&A is no different. The integration of AI is revolutionizing how deals are sourced, evaluated, and executed. In short, AI is becoming an indispensable tool for M&A professionals. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we discuss how to make AI practical in M&A featuring two AI specialists: Michael Bachman, Head of Research, Architecture, and AI ...
Jun 17, 2024•38 min•Ep. 302
Steve Lucas, CEO of Boomi The technology industry is currently experiencing significant growth, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence. This trend has not only attracted significant investments but has also intensified the competition among tech companies striving to lead the market. This has made the tech space a prime area for M&A. Boomi is one of those companies who have recently made a significant move via acquisitions. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will ...
Jun 10, 2024•50 min•Ep. 301
Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital. Here at M&A Science, our goal is to bring you the best and most effective techniques to improve your M&A practice. In light of our 300th podcast episode, we have compiled the top 10 things that make M&A successful, together with Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital. Things you will learn: Alignment in the shared vision of the end-state Cultural alignment Reverse Diligence Continuous learning and i...
Jun 03, 2024•54 min•Ep. 300
Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at Progress (NASDAQ: PRGS) When it comes to M&A, time is of the essence. As a buyer, it’s best to identify whether to pursue the deal or not as soon as possible, to avoid wasting money and time. Also, if the seller is a good target company, procrastinating could lead to more competition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at Progress, shares their strategy on how to ...
May 27, 2024•54 min•Ep. 299
Steven Freidkin , CEO and Founder of Ntiva, Inc. and Christopher Vollmond-Carstens , Chief M&A Officer at Ntiva, Inc. In a highly fragmented industry, roll-ups are a great growth strategy. But integrating multiple entities can be difficult, especially if you don’t have a proven framework. Ntiva has been successful in its M&A strategy and has completed 15 acquisitions as of today. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Steven Freidkin, CEO and Founder of Ntiva, Inc. and Christopher Vollmond-...
May 20, 2024•56 min•Ep. 298
Kyle Price, Chief of Staff & Corporate Development at Roblox Creating a dedicated M&A function can be daunting for non-acquisitive companies. It’s a big commitment that could take away valuable time and resources from top level management. However, when done right, corporate development muscle can be built slowly, and organically. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kyle Price, Chief of Staff & Corporate Development at Roblox, shares his experience on how to start an M&A function slowly ...
May 13, 2024•46 min•Ep. 297
Ivan Golubic, CFO | Corporate Development M&A at FastLap Group Roll ups are a great strategy for highly fragmented industries. It allows the platform company to increase its size, capabilities, and market presence through the acquisition and integration of other businesses. However, it can be challenging without a proper framework. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ivan Golubic, CFO, Corporate Development M&A at FastLap Group, shares his experience on how to start executing roll up str...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 296
Jim Buckley, Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware Integration planning is one of the most important aspects of M&A pre-close. Planning after the fact will cause massive delays and value leaks for the entire deal. It is why the integration team must be involved during the due diligence phase. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will talk about how to create an executable integration plan during the diligence, featuring Jim Buckley, Vice President, Mergers and ...
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 295
Keith Levy, Operating Partner at Sonoma Brands Every company must have a strong capital allocation strategy to maximize its potential. Without it, the company may end up missing opportunities and spending money on things that won't help it grow or become more profitable. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Keith Levy, Operating Partner at Sonoma Brands, shares his experience on successful and unsuccessful capital allocation strategies. Things you will learn in this episode: • Strategy vs...
Apr 22, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 294
Gerry Williams, Partner at DLA Piper US LLP and a member of their management committee. Private equity firms are established for the sole purpose of generating substantial financial returns for its investors. And one of the most effective ways of maximizing investment returns is the roll up strategy. This involves buying small-sized businesses in a highly fragmented industry and combining them into a larger platform. The goal is to improve efficiency and be sold later for a higher price. In this...
Apr 15, 2024•59 min•Ep. 293
Tyler Rodewald, VP, M&A at EIS Holdings In a world where change is the only constant, businesses are continually seeking innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve. One such method that has gained prominence is the corporate diversification strategy, a multifaceted approach that can lead to new growth avenues and enhanced resilience. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Tyler Rodewald, VP, M&A at EIS Holdings, discusses corporate diversification through M&A. Things you will learn: • Corpo...
Apr 08, 2024•51 min•Ep. 292
Andrey Galiuk, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations Before doing M&A, it is crucial for acquirers to target the right business, in the right market. Otherwise, it could potentially be a costly mistake that would waste the company’s time and money. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andrey Galiuk, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations, shares his expertise on how to perform strategic due diligence in M&A. Things you will learn: • What is...
Apr 01, 2024•54 min•Ep. 291
George Kellerman, VP, Head of Investments & Acquisitions at Woven by Toyota and Alexander Baum, Corporate Development Lead at Woven by Toyota In the ever-evolving world of business, staying ahead isn't just about what a company does today, but how it prepares for tomorrow. This is where a venture capital arm comes into play. It is a specialized division within a larger company that focuses on investing in emerging startups and innovative projects. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Geor...
Mar 25, 2024•55 min•Ep. 290
Camilo Franco, Director, M&A Integration and Operations at Jamf There is an intimate tie between M&A strategy and corporate strategy. To be truly effective, acquisitions must directly support the overarching goal of the company. But beyond that, there needs to be a strategic alignment with everyone involved. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Camilo Franco, Director, M&A Integration and Operations at Jamf, shares their secrets on how to achieve strategic alignment from top to bottom. Th...
Mar 18, 2024•55 min•Ep. 289
Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group. Most of the biggest M&A failures of all time are caused by culture clashes. Both companies cannot simply co-exist with each other, and instead of creating more value, they destroyed both of their businesses. This is why cultural due diligence is crucial in M&A. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, shares his expertise on how to perform cultural due diligenc...
Mar 13, 2024•42 min•Ep. 288
Baljit Singh, Former SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development at Nielsen Ventures Engaging in M&A activities just for the sake of doing them is one of the biggest reasons for failed deals. Without a well-defined purpose, these transactions can distract the business and waste massive amounts of resources. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Baljit Singh, Former SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development at Nielsen Ventures, discusses the importance of strategic alignment between M&A and c...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 287
Douglas Barnard, former Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Legal Advisor at CF Industries (NYSE: CF) Problems don’t usually surface at the early stages because it's the honeymoon phase. Both the buyer and the seller would like to see the deal happen, so they work together to build momentum. And often that means postponing dealing with some of the more difficult and contentious issues. However, these M&A challenges are inevitable and will arise as the deal progresses. In this epi...
Mar 06, 2024•57 min•Ep. 286
Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank M&A valuation isn’t just about looking at the numbers. There are a lot of different factors that affect and contribute to the volatility of the M&A market. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank, discusses how business cycles affect M&A valuation. Things you will learn: • What is a business cycle • What is a credit cycle • How business cycle impact ...
Mar 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 285
Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds When executing M&A, having a structured approach to validating the acquisition plan is crucial. The worst thing any acquirer can do is to buy a business that doesn’t bring value to the parent company. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds, shares the meticulous 6-step process his company uses to validate their acquisition plan. Things you will learn: • Surveying Customers • Industry Trend Analysis • Partner vs Build Analysis • For...
Feb 28, 2024•47 min•Ep. 284
Seema Nimmagadda, Head of M&A Integration for North America at Woven by Toyota . A lot of times, M&A integration is considered only after closing the deal. It is often treated as an afterthought, and this approach is where many deal failures stem from. If we want to improve our M&A process and get better results from deals, we have to start updating our practices to the most efficient way of doing things. In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Seema Nimmagadda, Head of M&A Integration for N...
Feb 26, 2024•50 min•Ep. 283
Brent Baxter , Chief Executive Officer at Association for Corporate Growth , and Jeff Giles , VP, Corporate Development at Core & Main (NYSE: CNM) In a highly competitive market, speed is crucial for companies wanting to do M&A. Especially with all the economic and market changes that’s happening, professionals must use M&A best practices to get better deals. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Brent Baxter, Chief Executive Officer at Association for Corporate Growth, and Jeff Giles, VP,...
Feb 21, 2024•51 min•Ep. 282
Amy M. Weck, VP, M&A and integrations at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, LLC It's common to see due diligence and integration as separate stages, but combining them can make the M&A process much smoother and more effective. But how exactly can we weave these two critical phases together effectively? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Amy M. Weck, VP, M&A and integrations at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, offers practical strategies to align integration and diligence for o...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 281
