M&a Science

On this episode, Kison speaks with Sallie Cunningham about how to plan a divestiture from HR’s perspective. Together they discuss the process of moving employees, how to approach ringfencing, and what Transition Service Agreements (TSAs) are. Sallie also explains what the key materials HR must have when it comes to preparing for due diligence during a divestiture and which transition records are required for HR to gather.

On this episode, Toby Tester interviews Kison Patel about his newly published book, Agile M&A,  and how Agile can transform the traditional M&A deal process. They discuss topics such as how companies can apply Agile techniques to the antiquated M&A process and take a deep dive into how Agile is a unique project framework that increases efficiency and closes deals faster. The two also address the importance of accountability and leadership.   Through this interview, Kison gives a step by step guide on how to implement this innovative framework and breaks down Agile to its fundamental pillars. Learn how to adopt the responsive mindset Agile requires and hear Kison’s opinion on the future of M&A. You can purchase Kison’s book on Amazon or at agilema.com.

On this episode, Kison Patel speaks with Stephanie Carty. Stephanie is a corporate communications professional with more than 15 years of experience at GE, KPMG and other companies. Her expertise is in executive communications and ensuring top leaders communicate with honesty, clarity, and credibility. Currently, Stephanie is a strategic advisor, specializing in employee communications. Learn components of communication plans, when to start planning, and behind the scenes activity that makes all the difference in the success of Day 1. In this episode, she tells Kison best practices for Day 1 and gives advice on how to avoid disasters. Stephanie also talks about a time she wrote 25 versions of a communication plan and how that unfolded at the time of signing.

On this episode, Kison speaks with Karen Isely of Isely Associates International regarding the impact people experience has on the outcome of M&A deals. Karen is an M&A specialist and the founder of Isely Associates International, an Australian-based global consulting business providing M&A advisory services to organizations growing by merger, acquisition or other similar business transactions. She brings experience as an HR professional, business leader and management consultant to every engagement and has contributed to nearly 150 deals, in-house as well as for corporate and private equity clients.

On this episode, Kison talks with PJ Patel, Co-CEO and Senior Managing Director at Valuation Research Corporation (VRC). VRC is a full-service, independent, global valuation firm that focuses exclusively on valuations that offer judgment beyond modeling. Kison and PJ discuss how to navigate intangible asset valuation in today’s market, how the current M&A climate is affecting valuation, and how to avoid the most common mistakes when conducting a valuation.

In this episode, Kison Patel discusses the groundbreaking research done by Dr. Keith Dunbar. As a Managing Partner at JKD Talent Solutions, his team delivers actionable leadership intelligence. With this intelligence, we enhance clients’ long-term profitability and growth by providing a unique, holistic view of leadership capabilities.  Keith gives insight into how leadership has more of an impact than culture, which is contrary to popular belief, and who actually has a bigger impact on deal success - middle management or C suite. They also cover why it’s taken so long for people to realize how much leadership impacts the success of a deal, how to look for those leadership traits in your staff, and what works the best in terms of incentivizing leadership in your team.

Kison speaks with Nichelle Maynard-Elliot, a corporate M&A Executive, public company board member, and corporate dealmaker with over 20 years of financial and legal experience in M&A business development and strategic partnerships at Fortune 300 multinational corporations and top-ranked international/boutique law firms. She’s a highly experienced corporate attorney lawyer, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.   

Kison speaks with Richard Harmon, a Managing Director at CSG Partners, a firm that helps owners of private, middle market companies achieve equity monetization while addressing personal goals. In this podcast, they discuss how ESOPs can harvest equity, enhance liquidity, and create tax advantages.  

Kison speaks with Anirvan Sen, the Founder and Managing Director of Fifth Chrome, a professional advisory firm that specializes in M&A integration and operational growth. In this podcast, they discuss creating deal value by focusing more on growth capabilities and revenue synergies than cost synergies.

Kison speaks with Jillian Kaebel-Sisk, an HR Global Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures Manager at Caterpillar. This podcast covers how HR practitioners plan for and executive divestitures. They also discuss carve-out and divestiture challenges, as well as TSA agreements, asset vs. stock sale, due diligence, and more.

Kison speaks with Toby Tester, an M&A Consultant and Project Manager with over 20 years of experience driving strategic, financial and operational value through M&A. This podcast covers how you can deliver maximum value from divestitures. We will discuss how divestitures, like acquisitions, can become a positive and transformational process. 

Kison speaks with Toby Tester, an M&A Consultant and Project Manager with over 20 years of experience driving strategic, financial and operational value through M&A. This podcast follows Toby's article, Driving Transformation Through M&A, in which he discusses how M&A transactions are becoming necessary transformational strategies for companies in the modern marketplace. 

Kison speaks with Jordan Lampos, a director specializing in healthcare M&A at Duff & Phelps, about how to best prepare a company for an acquisition and the role project management plays in improving this process. 

Kison speaks with Scott Kaeser, the Executive VP of Corporate Development for United American Security, a GardaWorld company, on sourcing strategies for successful deals.   

Kison speaks with Jill Harrison and Steve Siler about which technology trends are addressing some of the M&A industry's largest challenges. Jill is the Vice President of Ventures at Silverline and Steve is the CTO of Stonebriar Commercial Finance. 

Kison speaks with Kelly Haggerty, who founded her own advisory firm, Nearco Transaction Advisors, after 15 years of leading integrations and divestitures for top consulting firms and Fortune 500 companies.  On this episode, Kison talks with Kelly about her experience as an M&A advisor and the lessons she's learned regarding what makes a strong, efficient, and successful deal.  For more information on Kelly and Nearco Transaction Advisors please visit: https://www.nearcoadvisors.com/

Kison speaks with Paul Koenig, Founder and CEO of SRS Acquiom, a platform that manages escrows, payments, risks, and claims for complex M&A transactions.

During this episode, Kison and Jai discuss the best strategies for identifying, extracting and protecting value drivers during the due diligence process and most importantly while conducting integration post-close.

Kison speaks with Dr. Mark Goulston on the benefits of practicing empathy for more successful M&A, specifically to improve value creation and productivity post-close.

On this episode, Kison speaks with Dawn White, an M&A Integration Manager at Corning. Dawn explains the importance of conducting cultural assessments during M&A transactions and explores how these assessments can lead to stronger deal outcomes, increased value creation and an overall happier and more productive workforce.