Middle Market Growth
Episodes
The Next Generation of Law Firm Deals
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the last fifteen months, private equity investment in law firms has gone from theoretical to reality. Tom Lenfestey of the Law Practice Exchange is...
The Four Types of Middle-Market Decision Makers
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recent research from the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM) found there are four distinct styles of decision making for strategic leaders in...
Redefining the Middle Market for a New Age of M&A
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New research from RSM argues that the way we define the middle market is due for a major change. Tuan Nguyen, an economist at RSM, says the shifts in ...
The Anatomy of a DealMAX Deal: Inside DealMAX with Datasite and Blueflame
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For the sixth episode of this year's Inside DealMAX series, we talk to two attendees who ended up inking a deal at last year's DealMAX. Doug Cullen, c...
Browsing Retail M&A with PwC’s Mike Ross
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ACG’s Q1 Market Pulse Survey found that retail was the sector least likely to see increased M&A activity in the first half of 2026. But a closer loo...
Through the Lender’s Lens: Inside DealMAX with Christine Nowaczyk and Jalal Taby
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What’s ahead for the lending world in the year ahead, and how does that play into why lenders come to DealMAX? In our fifth Inside DealMAX episode o...
The Micro Clues That Could Win the Deal
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wished you could get a memo on what the person negotiating with you across the table is really thinking? You can, says microexpressions ...
Behind the Curtain: Inside DealMAX with Kate Weaver
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's possible that no one knows more about DealMAX than Kate Weaver, vice president of events at ACG. She joins us for the fourth episode of this year...
Flipping the Script: Inside DealMAX with GF Data's Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While data providers may see M&A conferences as an opportunity to seek out dealmakers, GF Data's Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann say DealMAX flips the scr...
Expect the Unexpected: A 2026 Lending Outlook with WhiteHorse Capital
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From geopolitical events to tariff fallout, 2025 brought plenty of surprises, and 2026 will surely hold some of its own. Pankaj Gupta, CEO of WhiteHor...
AI and the Talent Pyramid Problem
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Many industries, including management consulting and legal firms, have long used a talent model that requires hiring large classes of entry-level work...
Private Equity Meets the 401(k)
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Last August, President Trump issued an executive order for the Department of Labor and Securities and Exchange Commission to lay a framework allowing ...
The 2026 Economic Outlook with Michael Feuz
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Feuz, economist with ITR Economics, is back to share what middle-market business leaders and dealmakers can expect in the year ahead. From int...
Breaking Loose: Inside DealMAX with Doug Brookman and Mike Alberts
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The shape that M&A takes in the first quarter of 2026 will color the mood at DealMAX and what dealmakers are looking to accomplish as they hit the dea...
Optimism and Comfy Shoes: Inside DealMAX with Brent Baxter and Suzie Doran
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Roughly 16 weeks out from DealMAX 2026, we’re kicking off this year’s Inside DealMAX series, taking you behind the scenes of ACG’s flagship conf...
The Year Ahead: Dealmakers on Fundraising, Exits, and More
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forvis Mazars recently held a set of exclusive events for high-level dealmakers, in partnership with ACG and GF Data, to dissect the latest data on de...
Why Manufacturing Execs Are Bullish on 2026
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A recent survey of manufacturing executives conducted by Forvis Mazars found strong optimism for future growth, despite supplier price hikes, tariff s...
Getting Investors Primed and Ready for Beauty Sector M&A
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Past cycles have proven the beauty sector is resilient to downturns, but how will beauty M&A make out in the coming year? Fromm Beauty's Marty Okner a...
Can PE Score in the Youth Sports Sector?
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Youth sports is estimated to be a $40 billion dollar industry, and one that private equity has been eyeing with interest. Christopher Russo, CEO and f...
What New Research Says About PE’s Impact on Midmarket Businesses
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A special report from the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM) disproves some myths about private equity’s impact on middle-market businesse...
The Rise of ESOPs: What the Midmarket Needs to Know
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Employee stock ownerships plans (ESOPs) are experiencing a surge in popularity due to tax policy, cultural benefits, and their flexibility as a corpor...
A Look at the Soaring Aerospace and Defense Sector
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The aerospace and defense (A&D) sector has seen solid growth in recent years, lifted by a new age of space exploration, Trump-era defense spending, an...
The Rise of Continuation Vehicles and Other Trends in the Lower Midmarket
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From continuation vehicles to tariff impacts, from lending structures to interest rates, what are the biggest trends shaping M&A in the lower middle m...
Traveling the Transportation and Logistics Sector
04 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Yeager, managing director of WhiteHorse Capital, and Corey Mason, principal with WhiteHorse Capital, sit down with Middle Market Growth Conversat...
Inside the OBBBA's Tax Provisions
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Diving deeper into the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Forvis Mazars’ Donald Rawe, partner, and Howard Wagner, managing director, jo...
Unlocking AI’s Potential for Portco Value Creation
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI has been making significant inroads in PE, but the most common use cases are often based in deal sourcing or due diligence. However, new uses are e...
Unpacking the Big Beautiful Bill for the Middle Market
02 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What changes does the One Big Beautiful Bill hold for middle-market businesses and the firms that invest in them? Michael Feuz, economist with ITR Eco...
Inside Enforcement in the Trump 2.0 SEC
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What will SEC enforcement look like in the Trump 2.0 era? Emilie Abate, managing director at Iron Road Partners, joins the podcast to share how policy...
Taking the Temperature of Healthcare Lending
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Javier Casillas, managing director and global chief credit officer with WhiteHorse Capital, and Sachin Garg, principal with WhiteHorse Capital, join t...
The Economic Impact of Trump’s Policies
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Initial pro-business sentiment following the election quieted a bit after the Trump administration issued a series of tariff announcements and retract...
AI and Energy Storage: A Fresh Approach
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As companies and investment firms rush to capture value via AI, more energy is needed to run the data centers that power that technology, and this ris...
Inside DealMAX: Connecting in Cabanas with Tony Hill and Chris Hebble
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re back with another episode of our limited series, “Inside DealMAX,” where we’re joined by Trivest Partners’ Tony Hill, our 2025 DealMAX...
Finding Stability in an Uncertain Economic Environment
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding stability is the name of the game as sponsors and lenders grapple with stubborn inflation. However, there are actions businesses can take now ...
A 2025 Lending Outlook with WhiteHorse Capital
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart Aronson, executive managing director and CEO of WhiteHorse U.S., and Pankaj Gupta, president of WhiteHorse U.S. and global head of originations...
Private Equity Eyes Law Firms
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Regulations and ABA rules keep non-attorneys from owning law firms in most states, but that hasn’t kept private equity from noticing that the indust...
Inside DealMAX: Talking Investment Banking Trends with Ashton Gillespie
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the third episode of our limited series, “Inside DealMAX,” we’re joined by TM Capital’s Ashton Gillespie to discuss the investment banking...
Inside DealMAX: Serendipitous Networking with Karin Kovacic and Jose Gabaldon
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our second episode of our limited series, “Inside DealMAX,” we sit down with Libertas Funding’s Karin Kovacic and Holland & Knight’s Jose G...
Keeping Capital Deployment Consistent in Challenging Markets
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When the M&A market is muted or volatile, maintaining a consistent capital deployment strategy can be a challenge. Drew Guyette, senior partner and co...
Inside DealMAX: Creating Connections with Brent Baxter and Aaron Polack
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we prepare for DealMAX 2025, the podcast is kicking off “Inside DealMAX,” a limited series exploring the M&A environment, strategies to maximiz...
Five Signs Your Portco Isn’t Ready for an Exit
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A poorly managed exit process can erode value, and in the worst cases, a portfolio company that isn’t prepared to start that process can kill a deal...
How Can a CFO Add Value in a PE-Backed Exit Process?
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The CFO role has evolved greatly in recent decades, and perhaps even more so within private equity-backed companies. Tom Pierce, managing director of ...
What’s Drawing Private Credit to the TMT Sector
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The outlook for the technology, media and telecom (TMT) sector is bright—and, the experts at WhiteHorse Capital say, full of opportunity for investo...
A CFO’s Perspective on Exit Readiness
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As deal volume begins to recover and business leaders look forward to a falling rate environment, exit preparedness should be top of mind for finance ...
How Forvis Mazars Built a Global Network
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When in June 2024 FORVIS, a top U.S. accounting and advisory firm, combined with Mazars, an international professional services firm, the firms create...
Talking Nuclear Infrastructure Investment with Nano Nuclear
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Government incentives and environmental mandates are expected to attract investors to nuclear energy, and the technological advances and infrastructur...
Stout’s Rudi Moreno on Value Creation During Long Hold Periods
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Holding periods for private equity buyouts are growing longer, and the longer hold times are changing the way firms approach value creation. Rudi More...
Navigating The Competitive Private Credit Market
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Private credit has been on a rocket ride since the great financial crisis, and the direct lending space has recently become white hot with new entrant...
Insights on the Mid-Market Lending Outlook with TPG Twin Brook’s Pete Notter
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we enter the second quarter of 2024, middle-market dealmakers are optimistic about the M&A environment despite continued higher capital costs. Pete...
The Cybersecurity Risk of Renewables
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Renewable energy M&A has been a hot topic in recent years, with S&P Global Market Intelligence predicting that 2024 will be a banner year for private ...
Discussing the Demand for Sustainable Fashion with Wearwell's Erin Houston
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sustainable fashion is a rapidly growing market, but conscious consumers struggle amidst the dominance of fast fashion and the ubiquity of greenwashin...
Consulting the Crystal Ball with WhiteHorse Capital
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the ups and downs of 2023, the M&A market has been widely predicted to see a return to normal in 2024—but not everyone agrees with that assess...
Delivering Dividends: Investing in Accounting Firms
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2020, private equity firms and accounting firms have experienced a mutual attraction with multiple deals making their way to the finish line, an...
Discussing the Aerospace And Defense Sector with Michael Richter
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From naval ship repair to commercial aircraft engine machinery, the aerospace and defense supply chain is ripe with strong acquisition targets for dea...
Managing Wildfire Risk with AI
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As demand for electricity continues to rise, energy companies are facing growing pressure to mitigate wildfire risks associated with aging utility inf...
GF Data Report: Q3 Shows Valuations Rebounding
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Those who remember the dark tone of the numbers from the second quarter may be happy to hear that there are signs that the M&A market is starting to r...
Cell Therapy: A New M&A Frontier
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cell and gene therapy technologies are ascendent, boosted by new developments in treatments for diseases like ovarian cancer and Parkinson’s disease...
Mid-Market Lending Update with Twin Brook’s Betsy Booth
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Middle-market businesses continue to feel the pressure of rising interest rates, inflation and other macroeconomic challenges. The ongoing strain on c...
GF Data Report: Q2 Brings Record Low Deal Volume
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the close of the second quarter of 2023, the numbers from private equity-sponsored middle market transactions showed that deal volume has cratered,...
A Conversation With Revive's Michael Alladawi
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A Conversation With Revive's Michael Alladawi by Middle Market Growth Magazine
GF Data Report: The Cost of Capital Hits Hard in Q1
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a complex and hard-to read economic environment, data can help us understand the dealmaking moment. In the first installment in an ongoing series, ...
Taking the Pulse of Healthcare M&A with Twin Brook's Tim Wentink
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Macroeconomic challenges and a choppy lending market have weighed on middle market M&A activity and impacted financing structures across industries in...
The Changing Face of Media Liability Risk
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
***In the age of business websites, social media accounts and email marketing, almost every business publishes content, and with that content come med...
Gaining Control of Health Plan Expenses
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks to enable a more resili...
Protecting Your Business with Contractual Risk Transfer
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks to enable a more resili...
Navigating Employment Practices Pitfalls in the MeToo Era
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks to enable a more resili...
The State of the Mid-Market with Twin Brook's Chris Martin
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutio...
What Dealmakers Should Know About Tech M&A in 2022
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As managing director and head of technology within the investment banking group at Stout, Tricia Salinero helps clients navigate the ever-more complex...
Steadfast in a Fast-Paced Environment
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutio...
Operational Excellence Series Pt. 4 - A Proactive Approach To Human Capital
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and consulting firm focused on the middle market. It's part of a four-part series that ...
Operational Excellence Series Pt. 3 - Adapting Your Finance Function
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and consulting firm focused on the middle market. It's part of a four-part series that ...
Operational Excellence Series Pt. 2: The Evolution of IT
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and consulting firm focused on the middle market. It's part of a four-part series that ...
Operational Excellence Series Pt. 1: Closing Cybersecurity Gaps
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and consulting firm focused on the middle market. It's part of a four-part series that ...
Family Office Series Pt. 5: Succession Planning Isn’t Easy—Here’s How to Get It Right
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm focused on the middle market. RSM develops multi-generational relatio...
Family Office Series Pt. 4: Make Your Data Work for You
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm focused on the middle market. RSM develops multi-generational relatio...
Family Office Series Pt. 3: Setting a Foundation for Good Governance
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm focused on the middle market. RSM develops multi-generational relatio...
Family Office Series Pt. 2: Top 5 Tax Planning Trends
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm. RSM develops multi-generational relationships with family offices by...
Family Office Series Pt. 1: Choose Your Structure Wisely
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm. RSM develops multi-generational relationships with family offices by...
Lending Perspective: Year in Review & 2022 Middle Market Outlook
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutio...
M&A Tax: A Value Creation Lever in the PE Playbook
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US LLP, a leading audit, tax and advisory firm focused on the middle market. **** George Douvris, a partner in ...
The Importance of Information & Infrastructure
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutio...
How PE Firms Can Make the Most of Their Tax Data
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by RSM US LLP, a leading accounting, tax and advisory firm dedicated to the middle market. **** Lauren Demas, a prin...
Churchill's Randy Schwimmer: Why the 2020s Are the "Decade of Private Debt"
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Randy Schwimmer, co-head of senior lending at Churchill Asset Management and the founder and publisher of the Lead Left, joins the podcast to talk a...
The State of Direct Lending in the Middle Market
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutio...
The Beauty of Being a BDC
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Magdol, president and chief investment officer of Main Street Capital, a business development company, joins the podcast to talk about deal acti...
Sun Capital's Patient-Centered Approach to Health Care Investing
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sun Capital Partners' Managing Director Dan Florian and Principal Stephen Cella join the podcast to talk about their firm's approach to health care in...
Seeking Diversity? Think Outside the Box
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Organizations are waking up to the call for greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and middle-market companies and financial services firms ar...
Pritzker Private Capital's Paul Carbone on the Benefits of Flexible Capital
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Carbone, president and managing partner at Pritzker Private Capital, a family investment firm based in Chicago, joins the podcast to talk about h...
Family Office Dynamics: People Over Process
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of ACG's Family Office content series, brought to you by RSM US LLP, a leading accounting, tax and advisory firm dedicated to the...
End-of-Year Outlook with RSM Economist Kevin Depew
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Depew, RSM US LLP's deputy chief economist and leader of the firm's national industry eminence program, returns to the podcast to discuss the st...
Middle Market Growth Awards: What to Know
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This fall, Middle Market Growth magazine announced its first-ever awards and recently extended the application deadline to December 15. On this bonu...
Lending Through the Pandemic: The Value of Deep Relationships
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutio...
Get Ahead of a Business Crisis: Tips from QBE's Head of Claims
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, one of the largest insurers and reinsurers worldwide. *** E...
Bain Capital Credit's Global Head of Private Credit on COVID's Long-Term Impact
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Ewald, the global head of private credit at Bain Capital Credit, joins the podcast to discuss how private credit has fared during the pandemic...
Rising "Social Inflation" Is Putting Midsize Businesses at Risk. Here's Why.
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, one of the largest insurers and reinsurers worldwide. *** ...
Vertical Bridge's Founders on the Business of Wireless
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Two co-founders of Vertical Bridge, Alex Gellman and Bernard Borghei, join the podcast to discuss the pandemic’s impact on telecommunications infras...
Preparing for an Era of "Big Government"
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Depew, RSM's deputy chief economist and leader of the firm's national industry eminence program, returns to the podcast to discuss the state of ...
Private Equity Perspectives on Animal Care in the Pandemic
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In July, law firm Katten published a report about private equity activity in the animal care sector, based on survey responses from private equity inv...
Now Is the Time to Build Your Leadership Bench
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has led many businesses to focus on challenges related to working capital, supply chain, or the accelerated shi...
Surveying Risk in the Middle Market with QBE
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, one of the largest insurers and reinsurers worldwide. *** ...
Inside the Deal: HKW & Fresh Direct Produce
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Closing a deal in 2020 can be challenging, particularly when the parties involved operate in different countries. Yet HKW announced in July that its p...