The Agentic Edge: How Autonomous AI Is Transforming Global M&A

The definitive guide to the collision of autonomous AI and global M&A — written by a practitioner who has closed 30+ acquisitions exceeding $3 billion in aggregate value. Agentic AI is not a future possibility. It is already transforming how deals are sourced, evaluated, negotiated, and integrated. THE AGENTIC EDGE maps this transformation in granular detail, giving dealmakers the strategic framework and practical playbook they need to operate in an AI-native M&A environment. As autonomous AI systems evolve beyond simple automation into agents capable of independent reasoning, real-time decision-making, and cross-functional orchestration, every assumption underpinning traditional M&A is being challenged. The firms that harness agentic AI will identify targets faster, execute diligence deeper, model valuations dynamically, and integrate acquisitions more effectively than competitors still relying on legacy workflows and manual processes. The firms that do not will fall behind — permanently. Inside this book, you will learn: • How agentic AI differs from conventional automation and generative AI — and why it matters for dealmakers • How AI-powered deal sourcing is compressing timelines and surfacing opportunities invisible to traditional screening • How autonomous due diligence agents are transforming financial, legal, technical, and operational analysis • How real-time valuation modeling and dynamic scenario analysis are replacing static spreadsheets • How post-merger integration is being reimagined through intelligent orchestration and cultural analytics • How regulatory, ethical, and governance frameworks must evolve for autonomous decision-making Who this book is for: Corporate development leaders, investment bankers, PE and VC professionals, M&A attorneys, management consultants, and business leaders responsible for inorganic growth. Whether you are executing a bolt-on acquisition or managing a portfolio-wide buy-and-build program, this book provides the frameworks to deploy agentic AI as a competitive weapon. Drawing on case studies from cybersecurity and enterprise technology — two of the most active M&A sectors globally — Atul Tiwary combines two decades of dealmaking across investment banking, corporate development, and PE-backed portfolio operations with deep expertise in AI systems reshaping the industry. The result is not theory. It is a field manual for the next era of global dealmaking. Table of Contents: Part I — From Evolution to Revolution Chapter 1: The Global M&A Landscape — Then and Now Chapter 2: The Modern Deal Economy Chapter 3: Enter Agentic AI: The Next Frontier Part II — The Agentic Enterprise and Strategic Transformation Chapter 4: The Agentic-First Enterprise Chapter 5: Why Companies Pursue M&A: Motives and the Agentic Multiplier Chapter 6: Sector Perspectives and Value Capture Chapter 7: Pitfalls, Biases, and Guardrails Part III — Frameworks, Playbooks, and Implementation Chapter 8: M&A Frameworks Reimagined — From McKinsey to Agentic Systems Chapter 9: Playbooks, Metrics, and Implementation Chapter 10: The Human Imperative About the Author: Atul Tiwary has spent three decades at the intersection of finance, technology, and corporate strategy — from investment banking at RBC Capital Markets to corporate development for public cybersecurity companies to founding CorpDev.ai, an AI-driven M&A platform. He holds an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas, an M.S.E. in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, and a B.E. in Electronics and Communications from the University of Delhi.