The University of Bristol Business School (UoBBS) and mandaco-Group with M&A Media Services GmbH (mandaco) are entering into a strategic partnership beginning in 2026 to jointly strengthen the M&A landscape in the United Kingdom. The collaboration aims to introduce established formats such as the M&A REVIEW, the Career in M&A initiative, and high-quality M&A event formats to the UK market—creating a stronger, research-driven bridge between academia, industry, and emerging talent.
The partnership is built on the long-standing collaboration between Prof. Dr. Florian Bauer, Professor of Strategy at the University of Bristol Business School, and Stefan Schneider, Managing Director of M&A Media Services GmbH. Their joint work over many years in the field of M&A success research—especially in the areas of behavioural, psychological, and strategic drivers of deal outcomes—forms the intellectual foundation of this initiative.
Beginning in 2026, the partners will launch several major joint initiatives:
- Establishment of M&A REVIEW UK, an English-language publication for M&A advisors, private equity professionals, corporate development teams, and academics
- Introduction of UK-focused M&A event formats, inspired by successful concepts such as the M&A Excellence Days and the M&A Award
- Expansion of the Career in M&A initiative to the UK, providing structured access, career development formats, and industry interaction for students and young professionals
- Integration of academic research from UoBBS into practice-oriented content, event programming, and talent development
- Strengthening the nexus between academia, industry, and future leaders, with a focus on behavioural M&A, deal performance, and strategic decision-making
“We are delighted to bring the University of Bristol Business School on board as one of Europe’s leading research partners as we internationalise the M&A REVIEW for the first time since its inception in 1990,” says Stefan Schneider. “The UK market is exceptionally dynamic and provides enormous potential for high-quality content, events, and talent development formats such as Career in M&A.”
Prof. Dr. Florian Bauer adds: “Understanding and improving M&A success requires the combination of scientific evidence, practical insight, and strong talent pipelines. Our partnership with mandaco creates an excellent platform to advance research, teaching, executive education, and the international M&A community.”
Prof. Brian Squire, Dean of the University of Bristol Business School, emphasises the strategic significance of the partnership:
“At Bristol, we are committed to research and education that shape real-world decision-making. This partnership allows us to engage even more closely with the global M&A community, provide our students with exceptional opportunities, and bring evidence-based insights directly into practice. We look forward to building a long-term collaboration that enhances both academic excellence and industry impact.”
The first joint initiatives will be announced over the course of 2026.