English
Italiano
In May, Marco Polo Advisor attended the AICA Global Conference 2026 in London, the annual gathering of the Alliance of International Corporate Advisors, which brought together independent boutiques and corporate finance professionals from across the globe.
Hosted by FRP Advisory under the theme “Capital Moves”, the event combined international networking opportunities with in-depth discussions on the evolution of the M&A market, the impact of the current geopolitical environment and the emerging applications of artificial intelligence within the advisory industry.
The conference opened with a gala dinner overlooking the London skyline, with views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London — an informal yet ideal setting to strengthen international relationships and exchange perspectives among advisors operating across different markets and industries.
One of the key themes emerging throughout the conference was the transformation of the global M&A landscape. While in previous years the focus was primarily on speed of execution and availability of capital, today the market appears significantly more selective and complex. Several speakers highlighted how geopolitical uncertainty — with its cascading effects on debt costs, market volatility and investor caution — has increased pressure on transactions, particularly in the later stages of dealmaking, making the advisor’s role increasingly challenging from both a strategic and execution standpoint.
In particular, the sessions focused on execution risk showed how deeper due diligence processes, valuation revisions, earn-outs and working capital negotiations have become increasingly central to M&A transactions, making advisors’ ability to preserve alignment and momentum throughout the process critical to reaching a successful closing.
Significant attention was also devoted to artificial intelligence and its practical applications within corporate finance. The discussion focused less on AI as a theoretical trend and more on how generative and automation tools can improve day-to-day activities such as buyer research, market intelligence, CRM management, workflow optimisation and information sharing across international teams.
A strong consensus emerged around the idea that independent boutiques stand to benefit significantly from AI adoption, particularly through collaborative models and shared platforms capable of enhancing efficiency and execution capabilities, including in cross-border transactions.
During the conference, Filippo Rozzanigo — CEO of Marco Polo Advisor — also shared reflections on the evolution of the European independent boutique model, which is increasingly moving towards the integration of advisory and direct investment activities through club deals, dedicated investment vehicles and partnerships with family offices and entrepreneurial investors.
The London meeting once again confirmed the value of an international network such as AICA: continuous dialogue among independent advisors, direct access to international markets and the ability to rapidly interpret the changes reshaping the global M&A landscape.