Beyond the Checklist: How Smart Dealmakers Turn Diligence Into a Competitive Advantage

Middle-market dealmakers now face aggressive 30-day sprints instead of 60-day windows. In this episode from the 2025 LID Summit, Dan Lee, Marc McCabe, Jeffrey Michelson, and Erika Highland reveal how to protect value under extreme time pressure. Learn how AI-driven Quality of Earnings (QofE) and Reps & Warranties insurance bridge the indemnity gap.  

Discover why independent sponsors are the new power players in private equity. Turn your diligence into a strategic weapon and close with certainty. Watch now and sharpen your edge at www.maadvisor.com  #MAAdvisor #MiddleMarketMA #DealExecution 

Show Notes 

• Gladstone’s record platform investments despite market volatility 

• The structural death of the 60-day deal window 

• Why sellers demand diligence completion in one week 

• Detecting revenue adjustments through rigorous QofE standards 

• R&W insurance: Bridging the indemnity gap for smaller deals 

• The professionalization of the independent sponsor asset class 

• Leveraging AI to slash QofE timelines to seven days 

• Integrating cyber diligence into core financial assessments 

• Portfolio-wide insurance strategies to boost EBITDA 

• Managing margins through AI-driven headcount reductions 

• Market outlook: Why 2026 will be a year of exits 

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