Done Deal – Insights from our M&A and Activism team – February 2025
Insights from our M&A and Activism team
Welcome to the latest installment of Done Deal! This month, our colleague Alex Le May shares insights on activism preparedness during a webinar with the London Stock Exchange. Following this, our team delves into the upcoming election in Germany and explores its potential impact on the industry. Additionally, we share a recap from our inaugural Done Deal Talks webinar, highlighting key takeaways from the panel discussion. Lastly, Cory Fritz from our Washington D.C. team offers brief reflections in our colleague spotlight.
In other news, our M&A and Activism team is gearing up to participate in the esteemed 37th Annual Tulane Corporate Law Institute. Recognized as the pinnacle conference for M&A, corporate, and securities law, this event promises enriching discussions and networking opportunities. Let us know if you will be attending!
London Stock Exchange M&A Webinar Series – Lessons From Behind the Line
Germany’s 2025 Federal Election: A Turning Point for M&A and Foreign Investment?
Germany’s federal structure plays a critical role in shaping the country’s M&A landscape. Unlike in France or the United Kingdom, where national governments predominantly determine regulatory and political conditions for corporate transactions, Germany’s decentralized political system means that state-level governments often exert considerable influence. This is particularly relevant when state and federal governments are led by different political parties, as conflicts between these levels of government can impact M&A processes. In this environment, maintaining strong relationships at both federal and state levels is not just beneficial – it is essential.
Done Deal Talks – 2025 Activism Outlook
As the 2025 activism season kicks off, headlines are declaring the celebrity activist a thing of the past, while the CEO is in the hot seat as activists push to oust them in record numbers. In the 2025 inaugural episode of Done Deal Talks, top activism defense leaders – Amy Lissauer, Shaun Mathew, Val Mack and Pat Tucker – discussed the new class of activists leading aggressive charges, how boards are thinking about their CEOs, and if activism should continue to be considered a seasonal event. Gain more insights from their discussion below.
What We’re Up To
Power Shifts, Trade Wars and Tech Rifts: How Do You Respond to this New Geopolitical Era?
What do the seismic global political shifts throughout 2024 and early 2025, including the new Trump administration and upcoming elections across Europe, mean for businesses and your clients on both sides of the pond?
As economic interdependence grows whilst geopolitical tensions rise, organizations must adapt quickly and effectively – no simple task, given the wide scope of impact and rapidly shifting landscape. Whether it’s trade and supply chain management, advancements in technology or disparity in approaches to ESG and regulation, substantial change is truly on the horizon.
Join FTI Consulting’s panel of public affairs, trade policy, regulation, cybersecurity and digital experts for a webinar exploring the key geopolitical trends shaping today’s global business environment and the implications these developments have for companies and their legal advisors.
Date: Tuesday 25th February 2025
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 ET | 16:00 – 17:00 GMT
Location: Zoom
Meet our Team: 30 seconds with Cory Fritz
Describe your area of expertise at FTI and the value you bring to clients?
I’m a former senior Congressional aide who specializes in building strategies to mitigate political and regulatory risk.
As a senior member of our Washington-based Public Affairs team, I support the M&A and Activism team in providing integrated communications and advocacy solutions to help secure deal clearance.
In this moment of change and uncertainty, clients value having teams that’ve been in the room when the decisions are made.
We know the policies, the process and the politics that are driving outcomes. While I’m often closely focused on antitrust reviews and national security screenings, our sector-based public affairs experts provide a full range of coverage for clients. The depth of our DC team is a real differentiator.
How can companies looking at deal activity prepare in this rapidly-evolving political landscape?
The growing politicization of M&A – and especially cross-border deals – demands new ways of thinking about clearance. Proactive engagement strategies are more important than ever.
This means:
- Accounting for political risk at the outset.
- Tracking relevant legislative and regulatory changes in real time.
- Aligning on early warning indicators, and building corresponding engagement strategies.
Perhaps most importantly, don’t wait to start conditioning the environment. Gathering testimonials, identifying champions and educating third-party validators always takes longer than anticipated. Playing from behind is a recipe for failure.
What do you do outside of work that helps you reset and stay sharp for the next professional challenge?
Our 5-year-old is very into Legos. We’ve put a lot of time into Star Wars builds this winter!
Contact Us
To be added to the distribution list for FTI Consulting’s M&A and Activism Insights, or for further information on the dedicated M&A and Activism team at FTI Consulting, please contact Edward Bridges ([email protected]) Pat Tucker ([email protected]) or Alex Le May ([email protected]).
| The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of FTI Consulting, its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals. ©2025 FTI Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. www.fticonsulting.com |
