The University of Bristol, mandaco, and M&A REVIEW are launching the University of Bristol M&A Observatory and the M&A REVIEW UK on the 30th of June 2026. Through this collaboration, we aim to build a platform for exchange among M&A professionals and academics covering the full M&A lifecycle.
M&A professionals and M&A active organisations are operating under exceptional uncertainty. Geopolitical tensions, shifting financing conditions, or new players on established markets put pressure on organisations to change but also offer opportunities for businesses to transform and create viable futures.
Interestingly, despite increased professionalism and experience, success rates of acquisitions haven’t changed since the first published studies (1921). Nonetheless, some organisations are able to deliver on their strategies and create sustainable competitive advantage and value through their acquisitions.
The University of Bristol M&A Observatory together with the M&A REVIEW UK aim to bring these success-practices to the surface and enable productive exchange among the M&A practitioner community.
Join us for the inaugural event. An event created to stimulate dialogue and exchange and learn from exceptionally successful acquirers and research.
The University of Bristol M&A Observatory is a practitioner-facing platform at the forefront of evidence-based M&A research, market intelligence and deal community engagement. It connects rigorous academic insight, proprietary data and real-world practitioner perspectives to help executives, advisers and investors understand the trends shaping UK and European M&A.
M&A Review UK is the practitioner magazine for evidence-based insight into the UK and European M&A market. Combining expert analysis, proprietary intelligence and real-world dealmaking perspectives, it keeps readers at the forefront of the issues shaping today’s M&A landscape
We are delighted to welcome you to the inauguration of the University of Bristol M&A Observatory and the launch of M&A Review UK, bringing together academia and the dealmaking community to advance evidence-based insight, market intelligence, and practitioner dialogue in UK and beyond.
Join us for this invitation-only event at Goldney Hall, Lower Clifton Hill, Bristol, BS8 1BH
30th of June 2026
3.00 pm - 7.30 pm (registration from 2:00 pm)
Martin William Griffiths
Chairman
Sanderson Solutions Group Plc
Ayush Sharma
Group Strategy Manager
Cabin Air Group
Dr. Sam French
“The M&A Doctor”
The Virtual Service Company
Speaker to be announced
A PE perspective
Florian Bauer
Professor in Strategy
University of Bristol
Carmen Peacock
Head of South West & South Wales CIB Coverage
Corporate & Institutional Banking
Lloyds Banking Group
Jan Pörschmann
President of the German M&A Association
CEO and Founder of Atares
Louise Grzasko
Partner Corporate Team
Osborne Clarke
Stefan Schneider
Managing Director at mandaco
stefan.schneider@manda.co