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Now displaying: March, 2025

Private Equity in 2025: Market Shifts, Strategy, and the Rise of AI 0

Mar 31, 2025

Hugh MacArthur, Chairman of Global Private Equity Practice, Bain & Company

In this episode of M&A Science, Hugh MacArthur joins us to discuss the evolution of private equity over the last three decades—from the early days of deal-making and bespoke financing to today’s hyper-competitive, tech-driven landscape.

Hugh shares how Bain’s private equity practice scaled from an entrepreneurial idea to one-third of the firm's global business and dives into what differentiates top-performing firms. We explore sourcing strategies, value levers, post-acquisition success, and how PE firms are adapting to rising interest rates and new technologies like AI.

Things you will learn:

How Bain & Company built and scaled its private equity practice from scratch
The shift from margin improvement to growth-oriented value creation strategies
How private equity firms are evolving sourcing and financing models
The future of deal execution using AI and specialized data tools

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What is the Buyer-Led M&A™ Virtual Summit

This isn’t just another webinar—it’s an interactive experience designed to give you the tools and strategies to lead your M&A deals with confidence. This half-day event brings together corporate development leaders and M&A experts to explore Buyer-Led M&A™, showing how you can take control of every stage of the deal.

Register Now: DealRoom.net/summit

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This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. The World’s Most Intuitive Virtual Data Room With AI Contract Analysis No Per-Page Fees. No B.S. Just Smarter, Faster Deals.

Get started with your free trial today!
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Episode Chapters:

[00:01:30] – Hugh’s background and the founding of Bain’s PE practice

[00:03:00] – Evolution from buyouts to a broad private assets approach

[00:04:30] – Bain’s entrepreneurial origins in private equity

[00:07:00] – Commercial due diligence: Bain’s unique differentiator

[00:12:30] – Market valuation trends and EBITDA multiples over 30 years

[00:14:30] – Industry sector evolution: from industrials to tech and healthcare

[00:20:00] – The impact of software and growth on value creation

[00:22:30] – Changes in deal sourcing: proprietary to competitive

[00:24:30] – Rise of private credit and changes in deal structuring

[00:29:30] – Value creation strategies: growth vs. cost-cutting

[00:33:00] – Buy-and-build strategies and integration challenges

[00:55:00] – Role of AI and advanced analytics in deal execution

[01:00:00] – Growth of private markets and increased retail access

[01:04:00] – Common mistakes PE firms make during acquisitions

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How to Navigate Bankruptcy and Restructuring in M&A 0

Mar 27, 2025

Ben Beller, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Ben Beller, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, joins the podcast to walk through how companies can strategically navigate bankruptcy and restructuring during M&A. Drawing from experience on major cases like FTX and Silicon Valley Bank, Ben shares practical insights into Chapter 11 processes, planning strategies, liability management transactions, and how buyers can successfully acquire distressed assets. A must-listen for corporate development professionals, acquirers, and M&A legal teams looking to build competency around distressed transactions.

Things you will learn:

The differences between Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcies and when to use each
How liability management transactions work and their growing role in restructuring
What buyers need to know about acquiring businesses in bankruptcy

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What is the Buyer-Led M&A™ Virtual Summit

This isn’t just another webinar—it’s an interactive experience designed to give you the tools and strategies to lead your M&A deals with confidence. This half-day event brings together corporate development leaders and M&A experts to explore Buyer-Led M&A™, showing how you can take control of every stage of the deal.

Register Now

________
This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. The World’s Most Intuitive Virtual Data Room With AI Contract Analysis No Per-Page Fees. No B.S. Just Smarter, Faster Deals.

Get started with your free trial today!
________

Episode Timestamps:

[00:04:00] Ben Beller’s background and major bankruptcy cases (FTX, SVB, Mallinckrodt)

[00:07:30] Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 11 – key differences

[00:11:30] Signs companies should begin planning for bankruptcy

[00:14:00] Prepackaged vs. prearranged vs. freefall bankruptcies

[00:17:30] Importance of lender relationships and communication

[00:22:00] Role of private credit and debt trading in distressed situations

[00:28:00] Liability management transactions explained: dropdowns, up tiers, and more

[00:35:00] Trends in liability management and how they defer bankruptcy

[00:41:00] M&A in bankruptcy: How buyers can seize opportunities

[00:46:30] Understanding stalking horse bids and auction dynamics

[00:54:30] Common mistakes in buying businesses out of bankruptcy

[01:01:00] Bankruptcy reform trends and cost implications

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How to be a Serial Acquirer from Scratch 0

Mar 24, 2025

Ashish Achlerkar, Founder and Chairman at NearU

Starting a business from scratch is challenging, but Ashish Achlerkar, Founder and Chairman of NearU, took a unique path—leveraging M&A as a tool for entrepreneurship. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ashish shares how he transitioned from investment banking to building a multi-state, multi-million-dollar business in the skilled trades industry.

Ashish’s journey is a masterclass in leveraging M&A for business expansion, focusing on strategic acquisitions, cultural alignment, and operational efficiency to build a thriving company in an industry ripe for disruption.

Things you will learn:

Entrepreneurship through acquisition – Why M&A is a tool, not an end goal
How to evaluate industries for acquisition – Why the skilled trades industry was the perfect fit
Building a scalable business post-acquisition – The importance of training and technology
Working with private equity – How to find the right partner and maintain control

What is the Buyer-Led M&A™ Virtual Summit

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01:30] Ashish’s Journey from Banking to Entrepreneurship
[00:02:30] Lessons Learned from the Entrepreneurial Journey
[00:07:00] Defining Purpose and the ‘Why’ Behind Entrepreneurship
[00:10:30] Making the Leap from Corporate to Startup Life
[00:13:00] Selecting a Sector Through First Principles Thinking
[00:18:00] Building the Investment Thesis for NearU
[00:26:30] Executing the First Deal with a Bootstrap Approach
[00:31:30] Sourcing Deals Through Relationships & Reputation
[00:37:00] Challenges in Early and Scaling Phases
[00:40:00] Working with Private Equity While Preserving Vision
[00:48:00] Final Reflections: Transparency, Integrity & Doing the Right Thing

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The People-Centric Approach to M&A Success 0

Mar 17, 2025

Michael Hoy, Executive Vice Chairman, Great Day Improvements

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael Hoy, Executive Vice Chairman of Great Day Improvements, joins Kison Patel to discuss how a people-first approach drives M&A success. With 4,500 employees and $1.5 billion in revenue, Great Day Improvements has grown through strategic acquisitions while maintaining a strong culture. Michael shares insights on harmonizing financials post-acquisition, leveraging growth synergies instead of cost-cutting, and building trust to ensure smooth integrations.

Things you will learn:

How to scale M&A by focusing on people instead of cost-cutting
The importance of trust-building and transparency in integrations
Why aligning financials and data early ensures a smoother transition
How to foster a culture that drives sustainable growth

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Save your seat at the Buyer-Led M&A Masterclass to gain practical strategies to take control, reduce inefficiencies, and drive lasting value in your deals.

https://hubs.ly/Q03bF7vS0

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Trailer Timestamps:

[02:00] Introduction to Michael Hoy and Great Day Improvements

[05:04] The value of a people-first M&A strategy

[07:09] Leveraging growth synergies instead of cost-cutting

[16:14] Building a strong referral-based growth model

[23:11] Aligning financials post-acquisition

[35:05] The decision-making philosophy

[42:30] Importance of trust and transparency in integrations

[50:45] Cultural challenges in M&A and lessons learned

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Mastering Serial Acquisitions 0

Mar 10, 2025

Gwen Pope, Senior Managing Partner and Head of Platform Solutions Tiger Team M&A and Tracie Smith, Senior Partner and Head of GTM Solutions at Tiger Team M&A

Together, Gwen and Tracie dive into the complexities of serial acquisitions, discussing how large strategic acquirers can develop repeatable frameworks to streamline execution and maximize deal value.

From building a North Star strategy to decision-making frameworks, they cover what it takes to successfully integrate multiple acquisitions while maintaining strategic alignment. Whether you're leading M&A for a large enterprise or looking to optimize your acquisition playbook, this episode is packed with insights on structuring M&A functions, avoiding common integration pitfalls, and ensuring leadership alignment.

Things you will learn:

How to structure an M&A function for repeatable success
Why decision-making frameworks are crucial for integration
The role of executive leadership alignment in deal execution

This episode is sponsored by DealRoom BI. Harness the power of real-time data to make data-driven decisions by building, visualizing, and sharing interactive M&A reports seamlessly. Visit DealRoom.net to learn more.

Episode Chapters

[00:00:00] – Introduction

[00:02:00] – The backgrounds of Gwen Pope and Tracie Smith

[00:05:30] – Common integration challenges for large serial acquirers

[00:08:30] – The importance of a repeatable M&A model

[00:14:00] – Why education is key for executive leadership teams

[00:18:30] – Overcoming integration fatigue and long-tail execution

[00:26:00] – Structuring an M&A function: centralized vs. decentralized models

[00:36:00] – How to establish a decision-making framework

[00:49:00] – Handling unexpected challenges and reducing reliance on leadership for decisions

[00:56:00] – Why a decision log is essential for integration success

[01:05:30] – Crazy M&A stories and key lessons learned

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How to Execute Distressed M&A 0

Mar 3, 2025

Mimi Wu, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell

When a company is struggling financially, M&A can be a lifeline—but navigating distressed deals is a whole different game. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Mimi Wu, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, breaks down how Chapter 11 bankruptcy, 363 sales, and creditor negotiations come into play when businesses are in distress.

Mimi has worked on some of the biggest restructuring cases, including FTX and Silicon Valley Bank, and she’s here to explain how distressed M&A really works—without the legal jargon. Whether you’re an investor, a corporate executive, or just curious about how companies handle financial trouble, this episode is packed with insights.

Things you will learn:

What is Chapter 11? – How bankruptcy protects businesses and gives them time to reorganize
The Power of a 363 Sale – Why buyers love these deals and how they can acquire assets “free and clear”
Negotiating with Creditors – What happens when companies can’t pay their debts, and the options they have
Finding Deals in Bankruptcy – How investors and buyers can identify distressed M&A opportunities before they hit the auction stage

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This episode is sponsored by DealRoom AI. Forget spending hours reviewing diligence contracts. Automate the extraction and analysis of key information and create quick summary reports. Harness the power of Buyer-Led M&A with DealRooms proven framework. Visit DealRoom.net to learn more.

Trailer Timestamps:

[00:03:01] – What is Distressed M&A? Key Differences from Traditional M&A
[00:05:32] – Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: How It Works and When to Use It
[00:06:30] – 363 Asset Sales: Selling a Business in Bankruptcy
[00:09:11] – Why Companies File for Bankruptcy: Common Triggers
[00:10:36] – The Automatic Stay: Protecting Companies During Bankruptcy
[00:14:00] – Alternatives to Bankruptcy: Negotiating with Creditors & Raising Capital
[00:18:30] – How the Bankruptcy Sale Process Works: Auctions & Market Checks
[00:20:41] – Credit Bidding & How Creditors Influence the Sale
[00:24:02] – The 363 Auction Process: How Bidding Works
[00:26:39] – Stalking Horse Bids: What They Are & How They Work
[00:29:30] – How Sale Proceeds Are Distributed Among Creditors
[00:33:00] – Case Study: Carrier & Ketafenol Bankruptcy Sale
[00:39:35] – Finding Distressed M&A Opportunities: Buyer Strategies
[00:42:00] – The Craziest Thing Mimi in Distressed M&A

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