Voici la traduction en anglais du texte, en respectant la structure, les titres et la mise en page d'origine :

Artificial intelligence (AI) has suddenly become an unavoidable topic, disrupting every sector of the economy. From finance to medicine, its applications are revolutionizing work methods and challenging roles previously considered high value-add.

Where does this leave the business M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) advisory profession?

Current overview

According to a study conducted by Bain & Company in January 2024, only 16% of M&A professionals had already integrated generative AI into their processes. However, the trend is shifting rapidly, with 80% of respondents planning to adopt it within the next three years [1]. It is therefore a timely moment to take stock of our sector.

  1. Editorial assistance: Artificial intelligence first gained traction among the general public through note-taking tools (AI Notetakers), translation engines (DeepL), and drafting assistants (ChatGPT). In the M&A sector, these tools are highly appreciated for streamlining market analyses and company descriptions, which form core parts of Information Memorandums (presentation documents for companies being sold).

  2. Target identification: Sourcing counterparties—whether target acquisition companies or potential buyers—has historically been a lengthy and painstaking process requiring countless hours of research. Several tools have recently emerged that automate and streamline data collection and analysis.

  3. Streamlining due diligence: This crucial yet often tedious phase (which involves meticulously analyzing the target company's financial and legal data) also benefits from AI integration. Document intelligence tools can automatically organize, analyze, and extract key insights from vast volumes of documents. Legal and financial risks can thus be identified more swiftly, reducing human error and accelerating the overall deal timeline.

  4. Other tools: It is safe to assume that artificial intelligence will find additional applications in M&A: financial analysis, business valuation, drafting legal documentation such as Non-Binding Offers (NBO) or Share Purchase Agreements (SPA), and much more.

A profession to reinvent

At Fondaris, we already use certain AI tools on a daily basis: note-taking, presentation drafting, auto-populating our client tracking CRM, and more. While the adoption of these tools is still in its early stages, generative AI—with its capacity for massive data and document processing—will undoubtedly have a growing impact on our profession. M&A professionals must reinvent themselves to continue delivering key value in complex transaction processes. By mastering these new technology tools and exercising sound judgment when interpreting generated output, advisors significantly enhance the relevance and quality of their work.

The human element at the heart of our work

Furthermore, the development of "soft skills"—such as empathy and communication—is becoming increasingly essential. Generative AI augments human expertise and allows teams to dedicate more time to result interpretation and decision-making, where strategic analysis plays a decisive role [2]. Moreover, the human factor remains irreplaceable in complex negotiations, cultural alignment assessments, and relationship management: intangible elements that rely far more on emotional intelligence than on AI algorithms [3].

Ultimately, human factors and adaptability will play an increasingly vital role in mergers and acquisitions. Rather than viewing it as a threat to the profession, we believe AI is a powerful lever to enhance M&A advisors' capabilities—provided it is used wisely and discernment is applied.

(1) Bain & Company, Global M&A Report 2024: Gaining an Edge in a Market Reset, January 2024, pp. 19–24.

(2) Deloitte Financial Advisory, Les impacts de l’IA générative sur les métiers du M&A, April–May 2024.

(3) RSM, The Transformational Role of AI in Mergers and Acquisitions, August 2023.

Article originally published in La Libre Économique by Tanguy della Faille, Partner at Fondaris, on 25/10/2024. Published/updated version on the Fondaris website with the author's permission.