Oct 08, 2026 by Offer

FTI M&A Transaction Question 2027: How to Discuss Deals

The FTI Consulting recent m&a transaction question — commonly reported by candidates as "What recent M&A transaction interests you, and why?" — is answered with a three-part deal discussion: the deal facts (30 seconds), the strategic logic (why it makes sense — or doesn't), and your take (what it reveals about the market). Interviewers score commercial reasoning, not deal trivia.

What This FTI Consulting Recent M&A Transaction Question Assesses

FTI's corporate finance and restructuring practices revolve around transactions, so this question tests genuine commercial curiosity: do you follow deals because you're interested, or because someone told you to prepare one? The depth of your "why" reveals which. A memorized fact sheet collapses under follow-ups; real interest sustains them.

How to Answer This FTI Consulting Recent M&A Transaction Question

Structure the discussion in three layers:

The facts (30%). Acquirer, target, approximate deal value, sector — crisply. Example line: "I've been following the recent consolidation in the UK mid-market industrials space, where larger strategics have been acquiring specialist manufacturers."
The logic (40%). Explain the strategic rationale: synergies, market positioning, the seller's motivation, the financing. Then stress-test it: what could go wrong? Integration risk, overpayment, regulatory hurdles. Showing both sides is what marks you as a thinker rather than a fan.
Your take (30%). Connect it to something bigger: what the deal says about valuations, sector trends, or the M&A market. "It suggests strategics are paying up for scarce growth assets while private equity stays cautious" — that kind of market read is what FTI values.

Pick a deal you genuinely followed, ideally with some connection to your target segment. Enthusiasm is audible and follow-up-proof.

Common Mistakes

Fact sheet with no view. Reciting deal terms without an opinion is just reporting — the "why it interests you" is the entire question.
A deal you barely know. One headline deep is fatal; the follow-ups ("What multiple was paid? Why do you think the board sold?") will expose it.
Only mega-deals. Mid-market transactions often make better answers — they're closer to FTI's world and easier to analyze credibly.

Candidates commonly report this as a question where FTI interviewers probe the commercial logic hardest: "Would you have advised the buyer to pay that price?" Have a view with reasoning — even a contrarian one — because "I'd need more data" too often reads as having no view.

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FAQ

How recent should the deal be? Within the last year ideally. Anything older suggests you prepared one example long ago and stopped following the market.

What if the deal falls through or is rumored? Announced or completed deals are safer — you can analyze outcomes. Rumors are fine if you frame the analysis as conditional.

Should I pick a deal in my target segment? Yes, if possible. A restructuring-adjacent or corporate finance deal shows your interest points at the work itself.

What if they ask about a deal I don't know? Be honest, then engage analytically with what they tell you. Asking sharp questions about an unfamiliar deal can score as well as presenting a familiar one.

Preparing for FTI Consulting's interview? Our 2027 FTI Consulting Pre-recorded Video Interview & Online Assessment Tutorials has practice questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.