M&A Science

• Strategic M&A at Scale: Insight Partners' Buyer-Led Approach with Byron Lichtenstein

  Byron Lichtenstein, Managing Director at Insight Partners Byron brings over a decade of experience scaling M&A operations across one of the world's leading software investors. In this episode, Byron breaks down how Insight executes buyer-led M&A at scale, supporting CEOs across their 500+ portfolio companies from sourcing through integration. He shares frameworks for strategic positioning, the critical difference between types of M&A deals, and why strategy must drive every acquisition decision. M&A professionals will learn how to build repeatable M&A processes and avoid the common trap of unfocused deal-making. Things You'll Learn Strategic positioning framework: How to "write the S-1 on day one" and create a clear 5-year vision that guides every M&A decision M&A categorization strategy: The three core types of M&A (market consolidation, product expansion, geographic expansion) and how to execute each differently Integration execution: Why integration must be 100% of someone's job and how to build flexible 100-day plans that actually get executed ____________________ The Buyer-Led M&A™ Summit is back.The virtual event built for dealmakers who want to eliminate chaos and take control from sourcing through integration. 📅 October 30, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET 💻 Free & Virtual Learn from leaders who’ve built scalable, repeatable strategies that keep deals on track - Register now. ____________________ M&A Doesn't Have to Be So Painful 💔🥀  Get Optimized with DealRoom DealRoom helps corporate development teams take control—streamlining diligence, syncing integration, and eliminating the back-and-forth.  👉 Learn how you can run a repeatable, buyer-led process ____________________ Episode Timestamps: [00:02:00] Building M&A at Scale – Byron's journey scaling Insight's portfolio support from 6 to 120 people across 500+ companies [00:06:30] The Evolution of Software Roll-Ups – How the market shifted from simple consolidation plays to product-focused strategic acquisitions [00:10:30] The NMI Case Study – Real example of product expansion M&A strategy in the payments infrastructure space [00:14:00] Focus vs. Expansion Dilemma – When to stay focused on core customers versus expanding to new segments and markets [00:28:30] Strategic Positioning Framework – The "write the S-1 on day one" approach to creating long-term M&A vision [00:35:00] Founder-Led But Not Founder-Limited – Key qualities that determine which founders scale successfully through M&A [00:38:00] Integration Planning and 100-Day Plans – Why someone needs to own integration full-time and how to build flexible execution plans [00:48:30] AI and the Future of M&A – How AI is changing software M&A and the Optimizely orchestration layer case study [00:52:30] Market Sophistication – Why software buyers are becoming more discerning and what this means for deal strategy Questions, comments, concerns?Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.

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• Think Like a Buyer: Valuation & Deal Structuring with Javier Enrile

  Javier Enrile, Managing Director of M&A at TIAA In this episode, he breaks down the art and science of thinking like a strategic buyer—from building proprietary deal pipelines through relationship-first sourcing to using sophisticated valuation techniques that separate intrinsic value from market noise. Javier reveals why patient relationship building beats aggressive auction processes, how to structure deals that protect against downside risk, and the critical integration between valuation, diligence, and deal structuring that separates successful acquirers from the rest. Things you will learn: How to build proprietary deal flow through relationship-first sourcing that creates competitive advantages over auction processes The framework for separating standalone intrinsic value from synergy premiums using DCF analysis, especially in cross-border situations Deal structuring tools like priority returns, earnouts, and rep & warranty policies that protect buyers when deals underperform _____________ Today’s episode of the M&A Science Podcast is brought to you by Grata! Grata is the leading private market dealmaking platform. With its best-in-class AI workflows and investment-grade data, Grata helps investors, advisors, and strategic acquirers effortlessly discover, research, and connect with potential targets — all in one sleek, user-friendly interface. Visit grata.com to learn more.  __________________ M&A Doesn't Have to Be So Painful 💔🥀  Get Optimized with DealRoom DealRoom helps corporate development teams take control—streamlining diligence, syncing integration, and eliminating the back-and-forth.  👉 Learn how you can run a repeatable, buyer-led process _____________ Episode Timestamps: [00:02:30] From Sell-Side to Buy-Side – Why strategic M&A combines PE rigor with strategic thinking [00:08:00] Strategy Before Deals – The three-step framework for aligning inorganic growth with business strategy [00:12:00] Building Proprietary Pipeline – Relationship-first sourcing and managing 10-20 active targets effectively [00:20:30] Valuation Methodology Deep Dive – DCF vs. comps and why intrinsic value drives better decisions [00:25:00] Cross-Border Valuation Complexity – Modeling currency risk and geopolitical premiums in international deals [00:29:00] Deal Structuring for Risk Management – Priority returns, earnouts, and protecting against downside scenarios [00:39:30] The Integration Feedback Loop – How valuation, diligence, and integration planning inform each other [00:47:00] When Theory Meets Reality – A negotiation story about rational assumptions and irrational responses

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• Founder Exit Strategy: Xavier Gury on M&A Deal Terms vs Valuation

  Xavier Gury, Founding Partner at Wind Xavier Gury, founding partner at Wind venture capital firm, brings a unique triple perspective to M&A: serial entrepreneur, acquisition target, and now investor. In this episode, Xavier unpacks the critical lessons from his three successful exits, including one transformative deal with Publicis, where he structured a performance-based earnout that prioritized terms over upfront valuation. The conversation reveals why 90% of the deal value came through earnout performance, how to align teams during integration, and the strategic mistakes buyers make when acquiring founder-led companies. M&A professionals will learn practical frameworks for structuring deals that actually work post-close. Things You'll Learn Why deal terms matter more than valuation – and how Xavier structured an earnout where only 10% was paid upfront The "yin yang" principle for balanced M&A deals that create value for both buyer and seller How to incentivize key employees during earnout periods to ensure alignment and execution success _____________ Today’s episode of the M&A Science Podcast is brought to you by Grata! Grata is the leading private market dealmaking platform. With its best-in-class AI workflows and investment-grade data, Grata helps investors, advisors, and strategic acquirers effortlessly discover, research, and connect with potential targets — all in one sleek, user-friendly interface. Visit grata.com to learn more. ___________________ M&A Doesn't Have to Be So Painful 💔🥀  Get Optimized with DealRoom DealRoom helps corporate development teams take control—streamlining diligence, syncing integration, and eliminating the back-and-forth. 👉 Learn how you can run a repeatable, buyer-led process   _____________ Episode Chapters [00:02:00] Xavier's unconventional path from teaching AltaVista to founding startups [00:08:30] How a 10-person company acquired a 100-person competitor during market consolidation [00:14:00] Timing the Publicis Exit – Why selling to the "worst" digital player created the biggest value creation opportunity [00:18:00] How market timing generated 5x vs 12x EBITDA multiples from different buyer types [00:21:30] Breaking down the deal where upfront payment was only 10% of total value [00:26:00] The equity strategy that made earnout management effortless [00:31:00] The Yin Yang M&A Principle – Why balanced deals create 1+1=3 value instead of destroying it [00:38:00] How VCs navigate the schizophrenic nature of investment lifecycle [00:43:00] Terms vs Valuation Deep Dive [00:47:00] The $50 Billion Mistake  Questions, comments, concerns?Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.

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• M&A Execution: Strategy from Skadden Expert Arash Attar

  Arash Attar-Rezvani - M&A Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP In part two of this masterclass conversation, Arash Attar-Rezvani gets into the execution challenges that separate successful M&A practitioners from the rest. From deconstructing French labor consultation myths to revealing how AI will reshape legal advisory models, this segment delivers actionable frameworks for advanced deal execution.  Things You'll Learn How to structure aggressive workforce reduction plans within French labor laws and turn compliance into deal terms The psychology of cross-cultural deal-making and why listening trumps being the loudest voice in the room How AI will reshape M&A legal services and why success fees may replace hourly billing _____________________ 📅 Join Me at the Inside the Deal Session on August 14th! 📅 See how US Heart & Vascular scaled M&A with DealRoom on August 14th,11am EST  Learn how to consolidate diligence across vendors, the simple system they use to hit deadlines, and how they cut weeks off close timelines, without burning out the team. Register now at dealroom.net/insidethedeal ____________________ Episode Chapters [00:33:00] French Labor Law Reality – Why employment consultation is easier than American buyers think [00:36:00] Aggressive Cost Synergy Planning – How to structure 40% workforce reductions within European frameworks [00:40:00] Cross-Cultural Negotiation Mastery – Reading the room and adapting communication styles for French business culture [00:47:00] Defining High-Stakes Transactions – Why people's livelihoods matter more than dollar amounts in deal significance [00:51:30] First-of-Kind Deal Innovation – Creating the Luxembourg/Hong Kong take-private structure when no legal path existed [00:55:30] AI's Impact on Legal Advisory – How automation will force fee model evolution and reshape junior lawyer training [01:01:30] Deal Structure Evolution – From SPACs boom-bust to emerging PE club deals and earnout complications [01:06:30] Partnership Career Strategy – Why obsessing over partnership tracks derails early career development [01:10:00] Integrity Under Pressure – Handling government interference and corruption while maintaining client relationships Questions, comments, concerns?Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.

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• Cross-Border M&A Strategy: Navigating Complex International Deals with Arash Attar-Rezvani

  Arash Attar-Rezvani - M&A Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Arash Attar-Rezvani, M&A Partner at Skadden based in Paris, brings over two decades of cross-border M&A strategy experience to this in-depth conversation. From billion-dollar telecom deals across Latin America to luxury brand acquisitions spanning multiple jurisdictions, Arash reveals the hidden complexities that make international M&A uniquely challenging. M&A professionals will learn how to structure deals across incompatible legal systems, navigate emerging regulatory landscapes, and build the trust essential for successful cross-border transactions. Things you will learn: How to identify and manage multiple antitrust and national security clearances across jurisdictions with varying sophistication levels Why smaller transactions often require more innovation than billion-dollar deals, and how to build structures when no legal playbook exists The psychology behind cross-border deal-making and why trust trumps even the most ironclad contracts _________________ How One Small M&A Team is Closing 8 Deals This Year See how US Heart & Vascular is running faster, cleaner deals using Buyer-Led M&A™ and DealRoom. Join Kison in the live session on August 14 at 11am EST. 👉Register now at dealroom.net/insidethedeal _________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:30] International Legal Foundation – Arash's multicultural background and path to cross-border M&A expertise [00:06:00] Deal Size vs. Complexity – Why Smaller Founder-Led Acquisitions Present Unique Structural Challenges [00:14:30] Strategic M&A Motivations – The full spectrum of acquisition rationales from geography to technology [00:18:30] Building Long-Term Client Relationships – The trusted advisor model and its impact on deal success [00:21:00] Cross-Border Regulatory Landscape – GDPR, Cloud Act, and the proliferation of national security reviews [00:28:00] Managing Multiple Jurisdictions – How to prevent small markets from derailing global transactions [00:33:00] French M&A Environment – Labor consultation requirements and overcoming cultural prejudices [00:47:00] High-Stakes Deal Philosophy – Why people, not money, define truly consequential transactions [00:51:30] Creative Deal Innovation – The first-of-its-kind Luxottica take-private structure across Luxembourg and Hong Kong [00:57:30] AI's Impact on Legal Services – How technology will reshape M&A advisory and fee structures Questions, comments, concerns?Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.

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