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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast John Blair, Partner M&A Attorney at K&L Gates In M&A, it’s very common for buyers and sellers to disagree on the value of the business. If both parties cannot agree on the price, the deal could fall apart. However there are certain strategies and tools that both parties can use to compromise and be happy during closing. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, John Blair, Partner M&A Attorney at K&L Gates, shares best practices on how to bridge valuation gaps in M&A. Things you will learn in ...
Feb 14, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the dynamic world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), creating an effective team is crucial for success. This process can be complex and demanding, but also immensely rewarding. After all, having an internal team means having the capability of acquiring companies in the future, rather than treating M&A as a one-time event. In this episode, Birgitta Elfversson, Non-Executive Director at Netlight , shares her experience in transforming existing staff into M&A experts. Things you will learn from ...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jake Lin, Head of Corporate Development at Xendit Navigating cross border M&A is one of the most challenging tasks for deal makers. There are a lot of intricacies involved that are unique to each country, and must be handled delicately. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jake Lin, Head of Corporate Development at Xendit, shares his best practices when executing cross border M&A, particularly in South East Asia. Things you will learn: Biggest challenge in Cross Border M&A Language barrie...
Feb 07, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yoav Zeif, CEO at Stratasys In today’s competitive global market, organizations need to leverage every tool in their arsenal to stay ahead of the curve. One of the best ways to do this is strategic M&A. With the right approach, M&A can drive significant growth, unlock fresh opportunities, and expedite the achievement of strategic business goals. In this article, Yoav Zeif, CEO at Stratasys, shares his experience on achieving business growth through strategic M&A. Things you will learn in this ep...
Feb 05, 2024•46 min•Ep 277•Transcript available on Metacast Russ Heddleston , Co-founder & former CEO, DocSend Every owner loves their business. This makes selling their company even harder than it already is. But aside from the emotional turmoil that founders go through every exit, there are also a lot of intricacies included in the process. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Russ Heddleston, Co-founder & former CEO of DocSend, discusses the challenges of sell-side M&A. Things you will also learn in this episode: Considerations in Potentially S...
Jan 31, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jason Mironov, Managing Director at TA Associates Partnering with PE firms is a great way to exponentially grow a business and reach new heights. However, there are considerations that must be taken into account, before taking PE capital. Fully understanding them will increase chances of success, in the attempt to unlock the full potential of the business. In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Jason Mironov, Managing Director at TA Associates, discusses the pros and cons of taking PE capit...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep 275•Transcript available on Metacast Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital When times are good, big companies tend to ignore their smaller business units, as they operate smoothly on their own. It is only when the economy gets tough that these little businesses get more attention, and often seen as off-strategy or a distraction. That's when the company's leaders decide it's time to sell them, which is not ideal, as the business is no longer in their prime, making it harder to sell. In this episode of M...
Jan 24, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Swapnil Shinde, CEO at Zeni Selling your business is never easy. Aside from the emotional stress that it provides, it can also be detrimental to the business if it's sold to the wrong company. Oftentimes, during the process, it can also serve as a massive distraction to the operations, harming the business in the process. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to create a positive exit experience in M&A with Swapnil Shinde, CEO at Zeni. Things you will learn: • Reasons f...
Jan 22, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris Von Bogdandy , Global Lead M&A Solutions at Slalom Revenue synergies are why you’re doing the deal in the first place. But unlike cost synergies that happen instantly, revenue synergies are more difficult to achieve and often go unrealized. One of the biggest problems in M&A is that when a company pursues a deal, different departments have varying perspectives on what's essential. So how do you maintain the deal thesis as a central focus? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Chris V...
Jan 15, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Casey Nault , Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief ESG Officer at Coeur Mining, Inc. (NYSE: CDE ) ESG in M&A is very real. And while it is a fairly new term, it represents a range of critical issues and priorities that companies have long considered. In many ways, ESG has always been important and is essential for risk management and maintaining company value, even for for-profit organizations. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to focus on ESG in M&A, fe...
Jan 08, 2024•49 min•Ep 271•Transcript available on Metacast 
