Book excerpt: A behind-the-scenes look at the underlying roles of each player in a mergers and acquisitions transaction Mergers and Acquisitions Dealmaker explores the roles of the buyers and sellers involved in mergers and acquisitions as well as executive management, line management, and the corporate development team. Now in a second edition, this book provides readers with a "behind the scenes" look into the roles, approaches, and motivations of each key player in a strategic transaction, and provides strategies on building a successful team. Providing a unique insight into the various professionals that drive mergers and acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Dealmakers is a valuable reference destined to become essential reading for anyone trying to understand how mergers and acquisitions actually work. Michael E.S. Frankel (Chicago, IL) is a seasoned corporate development executive with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, and business development transactions. He has led over 100 transactions and has worked on hundreds more. He has executed transactions as an attorney, investment banker, and corporate development officer for VeriSign, GE Capital, and IRI, where he currently heads corporate development.