M&a Science

Marc Bell, CEO of Marc Bell Capital Marc Bell is a self-described “deal junkie” who’s built an empire across internet infrastructure, real estate, entertainment, defense, and private equity. In this episode, Marc breaks down his unconventional path—from turning around Penthouse into a $500M acquisition engine, to producing Tony Award-winning Broadway shows, to backing national security tech ventures and building satellites. Marc shares the playbook he’s refined over decades: how to spot a distressed asset worth saving, why structure and cash flow trump hype, and how to create value by backing the right people and thinking creatively about capital. Whether you're a corporate acquirer or an entrepreneur with a nose for opportunity, this is a masterclass in pragmatic, performance-driven dealmaking. Things you will learn: How to spot and structure deals for distressed or undervalued businesses Why betting on the right operator (“the jockey”) is more important than the business model The importance of supply

Ola Sars, Founder, CEO & Chairman of Soundtrack Your Brand In this episode of M&A Science, Ola Sars shares the story of his 20-year journey disrupting the music industry—first by co-founding Beats Music (later acquired by Apple), and now as the visionary behind Soundtrack Your Brand. Ola dives into the bold thesis that’s guided his career, why he’s pursuing a buyer-led M&A approach to consolidate a fragmented background music market, and how he’s turning legacy customer bases into scalable SaaS revenue. Things you will learn: How to turn a  product thesis into a long-term growth engine How Ola evaluates roll-up targets based on CAC and subscription quality What it takes to digitize a legacy industry with B2B SaaS Lessons from Beats Music, Apple, and Spotify on scaling and selling ______________________ This episode is sponsored by DealRoom! Turn your chaos into control. Tired of chasing updates across spreadsheets and email threads? Discover how DealRoom helps corporate development team

John Romeo, CEO of the Oliver Wyman Forum and Head of M&A at Oliver Wyman We sit down with John Romeo to explore Oliver Wyman’s disciplined, strategic approach to M&A. Romeo shares how his team sources deals through a bespoke pipeline, aligns incentives with founder-led businesses, and plans integrations that prioritize people and long-term value creation. From cultural diligence to pricing discipline, this episode reveals what it really takes to execute successful deals in a high-touch, people-driven industry. What You’ll Learn: How to build and manage a bespoke M&A pipeline The difference between banker-led and buyer-led deal processes What cultural alignment looks like in professional services deals How to structure integration and retention plans to protect long-term value ______________________ This episode is sponsored by DealRoom! Turn your chaos into control. Tired of chasing updates across spreadsheets and email threads? Discover how DealRoom helps corporate development team

Stew Campbell, Partner at The Chernin Group In Part 2, Stew Campbell returns to share tactical guidance for founders evaluating outside capital. We dive deep into how to run a founder-led investor process, what to watch for in term sheets, and how to build long-term wealth while scaling a founder-led business. Stew breaks down growth equity vs. private equity, investor diligence, and how to choose a partner who accelerates—not limits—your next chapter. This episode is a must-listen for any operator planning a recap, acquisition, or capital raise in the next 1–3 years. Things You’ll Learn: How to run a founder-led competitive investor process What to ask when evaluating potential investors and term sheets How to align capital strategy with long-term wealth goals Ways great investors create real value beyond the check ______________________ This episode is sponsored by DealRoom! Turn your chaos into control. Tired of chasing updates across spreadsheets and email threads? Discover how DealRoom helps

Stew Campbell, Partner at The Chernin Group In this episode of M&A Science, host Kison Patel sits down with Stew Campbell to explore how growth equity supports founder-led companies beyond just capital. Stew shares lessons from his career helping businesses scale while preserving their culture and mission. They discuss how founders should think about their boards, when to consider a minority recap, what separates elite investors, and how to navigate noisy capital markets with clarity and confidence. Whether you're a founder eyeing your next stage of growth or an operator thinking through the right partner, this episode unpacks how to scale with intention. Things you will learn: What a value-creating board actually looks like—and how to build one How to differentiate growth equity, private equity, and venture capital When to consider a minority recap—and how to structure it Why investor relationships are a long game and how to run your own "unbanked process" __________ Turn Your Chaos into Contro

Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International Explore how one of the world’s top M&A advisory firms scales through acquisition. Rob shares his leadership journey, reveals how Lincoln actively manages culture during growth, and explains why integration starts from Day 1. Rob and Kison also dive into cross-border M&A, the rise of buyer-led strategies, and how AI is transforming the deal process.

Jon Dhanawade, Private Equity M&A Partner at Mayer Brown    In this episode of M&A Science, Kison Patel sits down with Jon Dhanawade to unpack how private equity firms structure M&A deals—what works, what doesn’t, and how to manage risk every step of the way. Jon brings legal insight from both sides of the table, sharing practical strategies for aligning deal terms with investment objectives, mitigating downside risk, and building strong seller relationships. Whether you’re a corporate buyer or a fund-backed operator, this episode will help sharpen your deal judgment and show you what it takes to get complex deals over the finish line.

Paul Miller, CEO of Questex Paul Miller joins us to share his extensive experience in M&A, having led more than 90 acquisitions throughout his career. Paul reveals how Questex uses a proactive, buyer-led approach focused on culture, strategic alignment, and integration discipline. The conversation dives into the importance of early relationship-building with potential targets, auditing post-close success, and developing internal M&A capability—even when the team has no prior deal experience. Paul also shares candid advice on international deals, when to walk away, and how to avoid the common trap of "deal fever."

Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG Partners Larry Hartman, CEO of ZRG Partners dives into aligning strategic M&A with scalable growth. Larry shares how he transformed ZRG into one of the fastest-growing executive search and talent advisory firms through 17 acquisitions in just four years. They break down how to compete with strategic buyers, incentivize founders post-close, maintain deal momentum, and choose the right private equity partner to fuel long-term value. Things You Will Learn How to compete with strategics and win deals through culture and upside Structuring founder incentives: equity, earnouts, employment, and non-competes Why proprietary deal flow beats auction processes—and how to build it The role of private equity in accelerating M&A strategy and funding ________ Try FirmRoom for Free 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 t

Clare Roberts OBE, Founder and CEO at Kids Planet In this episode of M&A Science, Clare Roberts shares her journey of founding Kids Planet and growing it into one of the UK’s largest childcare providers with 225 nurseries. She reveals how she balanced organic growth with strategic acquisitions while staying true to her company’s values. Clare discusses the importance of culture in M&A, managing seller relationships, and how to maintain operational quality during rapid expansion. If you’re scaling a business and want to do it without losing sight of what matters most, this is an episode for you. Things you will learn: How to maintain company culture during rapid M&A growth The benefits of blending organic growth with acquisitions How to build trust with sellers and integrate their teams smoothly Why proactive leadership and transparency are key to successful integrations Episode Chapters [00:01:00] Clare’s background and founding story of Kids Planet [00:09:30] Transitioning from

Tina Kassangana, Corporate & M&A Lawyer, Associate at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP Tina Kassangana joins usto explore how legal counsel manages risk throughout the M&A lifecycle. With firsthand insight from a practicing M&A attorney, this conversation dives into the real-world complexities of diligence, purchase agreement structuring, reps and warranties, and navigating disputes post-close. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned dealmaker, Tina offers sharp, practical guidance that demystifies the legal side of dealmaking. Things you will learn: The three main stages where legal risks arise in M&A—and how to mitigate them Why reps and warranties clauses and disclosure schedules are critical How to align buyer-seller expectations in earnouts and seller financing Legal strategies to prevent conflicts in multi-agreement deals Bookmarks Intro and Tina’s Background – [00:01:00] Early M&A Risk Identification – [00:05:00] Buy-Side LOI and Risk Management Roleplay – [00:

 Michael Belluomini, Senior Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, Carson Group Kison sits down with Michael Belluomini to unpack how Carson Group scaled its M&A strategy—shifting from internal partner investments to sourcing proprietary external deals at volume. Michael shares tactical insights into managing concurrent transactions, building a sourcing engine, and executing with precision.    Things You’ll Learn: The differences between Buyer-Led and Seller-Led M&A—and when to use each How Carson Group built a scalable sourcing engine across multiple deal channels Strategies for managing 3–5 concurrent deals without burning out internal teams Why culture fit and trust are non-negotiables in M&A success Episode Chapters [00:01:00] Michael’s background in M&A and move to Carson Group [00:05:30] Building equity partnerships with independent advisors [00:07:00] Carson’s first external acquisition and shift to full ownership deals [00:08:30] Sourcing strategies: banker-led vs. prop

Bob Chapman, Chairman and CEO, Barry-Wehmiller Kyle Chapman, President, Barry-Wehmiller In this episode of M&A Science, Kison Patel sits down with Bob Chapman and his son Kyle Chapman to explore how Barry-Wehmiller built a $3.6B global business through 140+ acquisitions—by putting people first. Bob, known for pioneering the "Truly Human Leadership" philosophy, and Kyle, who co-founded BW Forsyth Partners, share how culture, transparency, and stewardship shape every deal they do. They dive deep into how Barry-Wehmiller evolved from a broken family business into a global leader in capital equipment and engineering services—and why their approach to M&A prioritizes care for people over financial engineering. From pre-close transparency to post-close adoption, this episode is a masterclass in using M&A as a force for good.   Things You’ll Learn Why cultural alignment is more important than revenue synergies in M&A How “Truly Human Leadership” became a core differentiator in their acquisitio

Sindre Talleraas Holen, Head of M&A at Visma In Part 2 of this global M&A masterclass, Sindre Holen pulls back the curtain on Visma’s deal execution strategy, valuation methodology, and post-close philosophy. Visma has quietly become one of the most disciplined and prolific acquirers in Europe and LATAM. How? Through extreme clarity on what they buy, why they buy it, and how they operate post-close. Sindre and Kison dig into the nuance of buying software companies in different geographies, how Visma thinks about valuation (hint: rule of 40—and sometimes 50—matters), and why the company chooses to “onboard” rather than “integrate.” This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how to structure deals, manage cultural differences, and stay true to a scalable M&A playbook. Things you will learn:   How Visma sets valuation ranges across different growth brackets and geographies Rule of 40 vs. Rule of 50 and how it impacts multiples Why Visma prefers local advisors over centralized consult

Sindre Talleraas Holen, Head of M&A at Visma In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Kison sits down with Sindre from Visma, one of Europe’s most active acquirers in the B2B SaaS space. With over 350+ acquisitions under its belt and a stronghold across Europe and Latin America, Visma has cracked the code for scaling globally while maintaining local authenticity. Sindre shares how Visma transformed its M&A function from a two-man team to a global machine spanning 20 M&A professionals—and 16,000 employees acting as an extended sourcing engine. He walks through Visma’s origin story rooted in M&A, how a bold cold email launched his own career, and the foundational philosophies behind Visma’s buyer-led approach to deal execution. Think You'll Learn: The surprising power of a cold email—and how it helped launch Visma’s M&A team Why Visma prioritizes local presence and cultural nuance in M&A sourcing and negotiation How internal alignment and operational champions drive deal success The

 Ron “Omani” Carson, Founder and Chairman at Carson Group | Founder of Omya We sit down with Ron “Omani” Carson, founder of Carson Group, for a wide-ranging conversation about transformation—both professional and personal. From launching a financial services firm out of a college dorm room to building a national platform with over $30 billion in assets under management, Omani shares the gritty beginnings, his early lessons in love affair marketing and systemization, and why his first M&A deal nearly broke him. But the real story unfolds around age 50, when Omani underwent a profound mindset shift—from fear and scarcity to love and abundance. This new lens on leadership reshaped Carson Group’s culture, unlocked purpose-driven M&A, and set the stage for launching Omya, his newest venture focused on helping entrepreneurs align joy, legacy, and impact. This episode is more than M&A—it’s a masterclass in reinvention, authentic leadership, and building businesses that matter.   Things you will learn:

Andrew Bab, Partner & Co-Chair of the Healthcare Group at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP In this episode of M&A Science, Andrew Bab joins Kison Patel live in New York to dive into the fast-changing legal landscape facing private equity deals in healthcare. From emerging state-level regulations and reverse CFIUS to FDA policy shifts and CVR litigation, Andrew offers a masterclass in legal diligence and deal structuring. They also explore how political scrutiny and increasing regulatory complexity are driving the need for more proactive, buyer-led approaches in healthcare M&A. Things you will learn: How state-level regulation is changing the game for healthcare deals What private equity needs to know about DEI rollbacks and False Claims Act liability Impacts of recent Delaware case law and why some firms are leaving the state When to use CVRs in pharma M&A and the litigation risks they carry How new HSR rules and antitrust dynamics are shifting auction timelines _______________ What

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 _______________ What is the Buye

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 _______________ What is the Buyer-Led M&A™ Virtual Summit This isn’t just another webinar—it’s an interactive experience designed to

 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