Delivering Strong Transactions
M&A Conference London
16 JULY, 2026 | BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, LONDON CAMPUS
$1,500 | $0 for Members Learn About All Access Membership Accounts
This prestigious annual M&A conference brings together corporate development leaders, in-house M&A and antitrust counsel, diligence and integration teams, and private equity investors to discuss current challenges impacting complex transactions and consider innovative methods for improving the deal process and transaction performance.
The cross-disciplinary agenda will be unpacked by a diverse speaking faculty from various industries and roles, who will share first-hand experiences, best practices, and guidance on delivering high performing transactions.
AGENDA
Thursday 16 July 2026
Welcome Reception | 8:15 - 8:45
Opening Remarks on M&A Performance Improvement | 8:45 - 9:00
William Jefferson Black, Executive Director, Transaction Advisors Institute
Synchronizing M&A with Capital Market Dynamics | 9:00 - 9:50
What capital market dynamics are shaping the environment for M&A? What is the current "market standard" for deal financing and forms of consideration? How are corporate M&A teams developing pro-forma guidance and investor messaging to prevent post-announcement share price volatility? When are unique structures being employed to mitigate market risk between signing and closing?
Aligning with the Regulatory Landscape | 10:05 - 10:55
How is the CMA’s new merger control guidance and more narrow jurisdictional view changing the scope of the M&A pipeline? What is the current best practice for early engagement with antitrust agencies? Are there effective methods and techniques for structuring deals that are subject to multiple competition authorities?
Innovating for Better & Faster Diligence | 11:10 - 12:00
How can diligence be accelerated with an optimal blend of AI, advisors, and sampling? What IP diligence methods (i.e. code reviews, information security scans, etc.) should be standard practice? What level of detail is optimal in crafting initial integration plans ahead of deal approval?
Lunch | 12:00 - 13:00
Streamlining Negotiations and Risk Allocation | 13:00 - 13:50
How can the balance of warranties, indemnities and other risk allocation mechanisms be optimised? What is the current market standard for closing conditions? How are break fees and other dispute resolution provisions changing?
Delivering the Deal Thesis | 14:10 - 15:00
When should the integration thesis and playbook be designed and confirmed? How do go-to-market teams effectuate and accelerate tough revenue synergies? What early cost synergy-capture opportunities should be prioritized to deliver quick wins?
Managing the Sign-to-Close Period | 15:15 - 16:05
How are interim operating covenants being structured to flex for slow close transactions? How are corporate M&A teams avoiding gun jumping while actively planning for rapid post-close actions? How should corporate M&A teams oversee working capital mechanisms and other closing adjustments to prevent gaming?
Engaging Human Capital Effectively | 16:20 - 17:10
Who should be engaged when developing a cultural integration framework? How do you determine the pace of change an organization can endure? What adjustments are made in integration planning based on cultural due diligence findings?
Applying AI in M&A | 17:25 - 18:15
This session will drill into gen AI and agentic AI use cases. Applications for M&A will be shared including strategic planning and market modelling, target screening and assessments of growth themes, scenarios reviews, and integration assessments and risks.
Closing Reception | 18:15 -19:00
Dinner | 19:00-20:00
Program Materials
Participants will receive both digital and print materials with more than 100 charts with information on recent shifts in deal volume, negotiation points, and best practices, including the selection below
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
M&A Conference
London
University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
1 Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BL
Thursday 16 July, 2026
08:30 - 19:00
$1,500 | $0 for Members Learn About All Access Membership Accounts
Registration is not open to M&A consultants, advisors, vendors, or members of the media. Unqualified registrations will be canceled and refunded, less a USD 100 bank processing fee.