A Preview of the 2026 M&A Landscape With Dan Scorpio
As deal activity accelerates in 2026, communications, investor relations, and corporate leaders are navigating transactions under unprecedented scrutiny. Ahead of CommPRO’s March 4 executive-level webinar, Navigating the New M&A Landscape, moderator Dan Scorpio, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, shares a preview of what is changing in today’s deal environment and what leaders should be thinking about now.
Dealmaking is picking up in 2026, but the environment feels more complex and less forgiving. What stands out to you as the biggest shift in today’s M&A landscape?
If only it was just one factor. You are correct, it has become increasingly complex for management teams, Boards of Directors and advisors to guide a transaction from signing and announcement through closing. These risks are dynamic and intertwined, as stakeholder perceptions are formed quickly, are shared among each other even faster, and sustained pressure from any of a company’s stakeholder groups can threaten the ability to close a transaction and realize business value. Shareholders are increasingly vocal with their reactions to key transaction terms, employees and labor feel emboldened and the regulatory environment, which has become more favorable in the aggregate, will continue to be unpredictable.
When companies prepare for a transaction, what communications or stakeholder risk is most often underestimated?
We counsel our clients to always include detailed plans for communicating to the employee base and managing potential regulatory/antitrust risk as early as possible in the transaction announcement communications process. This is changing, but historically some companies could be a bit starry-eyed about regulatory risks only to be surprised when opposition emerges or a second request proves more onerous than anticipated. In our view, it is essential to prepare antitrust communications plans before the transaction is announced, including scenarios, potential third parties and media options, etc. so the company is prepared to execute quickly if needed. The good news is we are seeing clear-eyed and detailed discussions about deal certainty and the path to closing much more frequently in boardrooms today.
The same is true for internal communications, including for both acquiring and target companies. It can be easy for those focused on negotiating the deal to worry about labor later. But announcing a transaction is not the end of the process, it truly is the beginning of a marathon to integrate two businesses and operate going forward. Companies who avoid addressing how employees may perceive key points such as culture, values, branding and corporate/division names, even where the combined headquarters will be located, are taking an unnecessary risk.
What should communications, investor relations, and corporate leaders expect to take away from the March 4 webinar on navigating high-stakes transactions?
We have a terrific panel of industry veterans and experts in their respective fields. Our intent is to provide real-world examples from our collective transaction experience, actionable strategies and best practices for companies considering M&A in this environment and to answer audience questions. As I mentioned earlier, it has never been more challenging or complex to get deals done as it is today, but our hope with this discussion is to share a roadmap of how we’ve seen dealmakers be successful.
Join CommPRO on March 4 for the executive-level webinar, Navigating the New M&A Landscape, for a deeper, real-world discussion on managing communications, investor expectations, regulatory hurdles, and stakeholder risk in today’s deal environment.
