Executing Strategic M&A in Today's Market

Todd Henrich, SVP Head of Corporate Development at Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG)

Today's M&A market conditions are volatile, regulatory scrutiny is high, and the pressure to find value is greater than ever. The risks of entering a deal without a firm understanding of today's market dynamics have never been more pronounced. How do you ensure your strategic acquisitions stay on course?

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we explore the best practices for executing strategic M&A in today's market with Todd Henrich, SVP Head of Corporate Development at Booking Holdings.

Things you will learn:

• The ripple effects of regulatory overreach on M&A and investment

• Shaping strategy through M&A setbacks

• Using M&A as a tool, not a strategy

• How global regulatory collaboration is impacting M&A activity

• Key targets and red flags when building an investment thesis

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This episode is sponsored by Grata. Grata is the leading platform for private market dealmaking. With innovative AI and diligence-grade data, Grata makes it easy to find and evaluate targets from the outside looking in. Win more with Grata.

This episode is also sponsored by DealRoom AI, the latest innovation from DealRoom designed specifically for M&A professionals. DealRoom AI automates the analysis and extraction of key information from due diligence documents, empowering teams to save up to 80% of their time on document analysis and focus on what really matters—closing the deal.

Ready to streamline your M&A process? Visit dealroom.net today.

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Episode Timestamps

00:00 Intro

05:02 The impact of changing regulations on M&A deals

08:01 The ripple effects of regulatory overreach on M&A and investment

11:40 Shaping strategy through M&A setbacks

12:49 Using M&A as a tool, not a strategy

15:59 How global regulatory collaboration is impacting M&A activity

18:13 Adapting to regulatory rules

19:21 Ensuring strategic alignment and long-term value in M&A

22:49 Sourcing deals

23:38 The Rocketmiles acquisition success story

26:48 Key targets and red flags when building an investment thesis

30:16 The AI hype

31:38 Managing the hidden costs of M&A

36:08 The importance of an integration team in M&A success

37:39 Balancing valuation and integration costs in M&A

39:19 Other reasons deals can go awry

43:39 Key lessons in M&A: Doing deals that matter

46:59 Handling surprises in M&A deals

53:21 The importance of buyer-led M&A processes for long-term success

55:09 Craziest Thing in M&A