M&A Advisor Podcast

Before entering 2025 with high expectations only to face a challenging first half and a sluggish deal volume, market participants struggled to find momentum in a complex economic landscape; however, after analyzing the recent surge in large-cap deals and integrating Gen AI into their due diligence processes, dealmakers are now equipped with the creative structures and technological speed needed to...

In an era defined by rapid policy shifts and shifting consumer behavior, uncertainty has become the only constant in the restructuring world. In this episode, industry veterans Lisa Donahue and J. Gregory Milmoe join Richard Goldman to dissect the distress signals emerging in the electric vehicle, renewable energy, and oil and gas sectors.   From the impact of AI on professional services to the &q...

Institutional investors often misread the Latin American market as a monolith of volatility, leaving significant value on the table. In this episode, Alexandre Pierantoni (Kroll) and Ricardo Lacerda (BR Partners) break down the structural shift from currency risk to regulatory uncertainty in Brazil and the wider region.   Discover how local entrepreneurship and private capital are driving a record...

The era of "cheap debt" that fueled a decade of dealmaking is officially over, leaving many portfolio companies with legacy capital structures that are no longer sustainable. In this episode, Roger Aguinaldo sits down with Dave Miller, Head of U.S. Restructuring at Elliott Management, to discuss the $70 billion firm's multi-strategy approach to distressed investing. Learn why "higher for longer" i...

A dealmaker’s most valuable asset is not their technology, but the depth of their strategic network. In this episode with Jonathan Adelson, industry veteran David Deutsch shares a masterclass on the "old school" principles of relationship building, mentorship, and career longevity. From starting at Lehman Brothers to founding a premier boutique firm, Deutsch breaks down how to manage a 3...

Founders, PE operators, and advisors face a reality where deal multiples have reset and lenders have tightened selectivity. In this episode, Jonathan Kelemen of The Beekman Group shares strategies for lower middle market private equity and healthcare services acquisitions. With $1.2 billion in AUM, Kelemen reveals how professional investors filter deal flow and manage portfolio cost pressures. Mas...

Most founders under $10M EBITDA assume no one is looking at their deals—and leave institutional money on the table. In this episode, Andrew Nussbaum reveals how Golden Circle Advisors brings private equity, strategics, private credit, and SBIC capital into sub-$5M EBITDA situations. Learn how to escape broker-level processes, access non-dilutive and minority equity options, and run a true end-to-e...

Before attempting to navigate the complexities of international dealmaking, many investors were deterred by shifting regulatory landscapes and political instability; however, after applying the cross-border frameworks shared by Euan Rellie and Shawn Whiteside, they can now identify hidden opportunities in emerging corridors like Southeast Asia and India while protecting deal value through proactiv...

Founder and family-owned business owners often struggle to navigate the complex "Silver Tsunami" transition without leaving millions on the table. In this episode, Dena Jallbert of Align explores why private equity is aggressively targeting the lower middle market with buy-and-build strategies.   Learn to fix messy financials and address restrictive assignment clauses before they kill yo...

From tinkering with lawnmowers in a suburban garage to steering global financial giants through crisis and innovation—Eric Aboaf’s journey is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and the power of data-driven transformation. In this episode of the M&A Advisor Podcast, Roger Aguinaldo, Founder and CEO of The M&A Advisor sits down with Eric Aboaf, CFO of S&P Global, for a riveting con...

Uncertainty is over—and the phones are ringing off the hook. Welcome back to the fireside chat between Dena Jalbert, CEO and Founder at Align Business Advisory Services and Jon Moore, Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP. Originally recorded live on November 20th at the 2024 Future of Dealmaking Summit in New York City. The podcast episode features the session entitled “Looking Beyond the Elections...

What happens when U.S. private equity playbooks collide with family-run firms in Brazil—or carve-out integrations stretch across Germany, Romania, and the Czech Republic? Welcome back to the fireside chat between Ammar Misto, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Development at Atar Capital, and Ricardo Lacerda, Founder and CEO of BR Partners; formerly Head of LATAM for Citi; CEO Brazil for G...

What really drives deal success in today’s competitive M&A market? Welcome back to this fireside chat from the Deal Forum at the 2024 Future of Dealmaking Summit, held on November 24–25 in New York City. This insightful conversation between Cory Strickland, Senior Managing Director M&A at Generational Equity, and Rajesh Sharma, Director of Corporate Development at ITOCHU Corp., on the topi...

“We don’t have a bankruptcy problem—we’re just a little tight on covenants.” Sound familiar? When denial meets distress, communication becomes your most critical asset. Originally recorded live at the 2025 Distressed Investing Summit in Palm Beach, Florida, this episode features the session “Strategic Communications in Restructuring: From Pre-Filing Rumors to Stakeholder Engagement,” a candid and...

What can a Paralympic gold medalist teach the M&A world about dealmaking? Everything. In this powerful episode, we bring you inside the 2024 Future of Dealmaking Summit for an unforgettable Fireside Chat featuring Michael “Mikey” Brannigan, a Paralympic Games gold medalist, and his longtime coach Sonja Robinson, in conversation with security and intelligence leader Robert J. Strang. Diagnosed...

After years of market turbulence, all signs point to a major rebound in M&A. But is it real—or just wishful thinking? Welcome back to this fireside chat from the Deal Forum at the 2024 Future of Dealmaking Summit, held on November 24–25 in New York City. This insightful conversation between Mitch Berlin, Vice Chair - EY Americas Strategy and Transactions, in conversation with Katie Johnson, Tr...

What do a failing Mediterranean restaurant chain, Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, and a Netflix-for-sports company have in common? Billion-dollar strategy, high-stakes decisions, and unexpected winners. This episode dives into the real-world deal drama behind massive media moves and distressed asset turnarounds—with war stories you won't forget. Welcome back to this fireside chat from the Deal Foru...

Are tariffs really tanking deals — or are we all just overreacting? Recorded live at the 2025 Distressed Investing Summit in Palm Beach, this powerhouse episode delivers an unfiltered fireside chat between Patrick O’Keefe, Founder and CEO of O’Keefe, and Lorie Beers, Managing Director and Head of Special Situations at Intrepid Investment Bankers. Together, they tackle the timely topic: “PE Boom or...

What does it really take to build a post-bankruptcy trust that performs — not just exists? Recorded live at the 2025 Distressed Investing Summit in Palm Beach, this must-hear episode features a powerhouse conversation between Natalie Ramsey, Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group and Partner-in-Charge at Robinson+Cole, and Heather Barlow, Managing Director and Co-Lead at Dundon Adviser...

Welcome to the fireside chat series of the Deal Forum of the 2024 Future of Dealmaking Summit held on November 19 & 20 at the iconic New York Athletic Club in the heart of New York. For those who missed the event, this riveting podcast episode features a conversation between Roger Aguinaldo, Founder and CEO of The M&A Advisor, and business mogul and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbu...

What happens when bankruptcy law, private credit, and global restructuring collide with unstoppable innovation? The result? A candid, insider conversation that pulls back the curtain on how top minds are redefining the rules of modern restructuring. Recorded live at the 2025 Distressed Investing Summit in Palm Beach, this powerhouse episode features a no-holds-barred fireside chat between Robert D...

Discover how transformative restructuring is reshaping the future of finance, law, and distressed investing. This high-impact masterclass was recorded during the Deal Forum at the 2025 Distressed Investing Summit held last March 25 in Palm Beach, Florida. We're sharing this conversation as a podcast episode for anyone who missed it, wants to pass it along to fellow dealmakers, or simply wants to l...

This episode deep dives into the high-stakes world of corporate restructuring and crisis communication, exploring real-world examples from some of the most high-profile cases in recent years. This was a fireside chat conversation at the Deal Forum of the 2025 Distressed Investing Summit which took place on March 25 at sunny Palm Beach, Florida. In case you missed it, join the conversation between...

Welcome to the show where real-life M&A leadership is forged in chaos, not classrooms.​ In a world of volatile markets, brutal M&A battles, and uncertain times, textbook leadership doesn’t cut it. In this episode of M&A Leadership Masterclass, we bring together top restructuring and M&A experts and thought leaders. Join Jack Butler, CEO of Birch Lake Holdings, as he sits down with...

What do tariffs, inflation, and steel deals have in common? One man: Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. In this no-holds-barred episode, former U.S. Commerce Secretary and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross goes off-script to reveal his take on the story behind America’s trade wars, Trump-era tariffs, and the shocking sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel. Secretary Ross dives deep...