M&A Science Live - How to Win an Auction Without Being the Highest Bidder

Winning an M&A auction isn't always about offering the highest price. Sellers often look beyond valuation, considering a buyer's ability to move quickly, execute with confidence, and navigate unexpected challenges. For corporate development teams, understanding what makes a buyer stand out can be the difference between winning a deal and losing it to a competitor.

Join Sam Delestienne (Vice President, Corporate Development at Diploma PLC) and Kison Patel (Founder & CEO at DealRoom) for an M&A Science Live session focused on how to win competitive auctions without being the highest bidder. Drawing on real acquisition experience, this session explores how lean teams accelerate diligence, differentiate themselves from competing buyers, and overcome challenges that threaten to derail a deal.

In this session, you'll discover:

• How to win deals without the highest bid. See what Sam’s team brings to the table that makes sellers choose them over a bigger number.
• How to get from data room access to underwriting in under three weeks. Get a practical look at how a lean team compresses diligence without cutting corners.
• What to do when an environmental issue threatens the deal. Hear what nearly killed one acquisition, and how the team kept it alive.