The most successful M&A deals start with a clear thesis —one grounded in what must be true for the deal to deliver value.

Due diligence has been redefined as a result, shifting toward a more focused, thesis-led approach. And with that shift comes the end of traditional “desktop diligence.” As Kevin Desai, U.S. and Mexico Deals leader at PwC, puts it: “The old days of doing desktop diligence … probably not enough.”

In this episode of The Dealist podcast presented by SS&C Intralinks, Kevin joins us to explore how due diligence has evolved into a far more strategic, hands-on discipline. Today, success starts with a critical question: What must be true for this deal to succeed?

From there, diligence becomes thesis-led — focused not just on validating the numbers, but on understanding whether a business is truly built to deliver on its value creation plan. That means going deeper into operations, talent, culture and technology, and bringing in the right specialists to assess each dimension.

The conversation also highlights a major shift in expectations: diligence is no longer just about identifying risks — it’s about building conviction. In a competitive deal environment, investors need speed to insight, clear answers and actionable solutions to move decisively.

Listen to learn: • How aligning early around the strategic imperative shapes the entire diligence process • The need for multidisciplinary expertise across operations, technology, talent and culture • How to identify and address capability gaps without derailing the deal • Why human interaction — not just data — remains essential to uncovering real insight • The importance of integrating post-merger thinking early, with a focus on long-term value creation • How speed, clarity and stakeholder alignment drive better deal outcomes