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Press Release: Oaklin Acquires Specialist Firm BTD to Expand and Strengthen M&A Capabilities

London, February 2026 

Oaklin has announced the acquisition of Beyond the Deal (BTD), a leading specialist in mergers, acquisitions, and inorganic growth services. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Oaklin, creating a dedicated M&A and Inorganic Growth Practice designed to help clients execute transactions successfully and deliver long-term value.  

Speaking on the deal, Mark Walker, Oaklin Partner, said, “Our clients want more than great advice - they want confidence that their strategic decisions will deliver results. By bringing BTD into Oaklin, we’re creating a distinctive offering that helps boards and executives achieve their growth ambitions quickly and smoothly, with minimal risk, and with the quality and service Oaklin is known for.” 

Unlocking Value Through M&A and Strategic Partnerships  

Inorganic growth remains one of the most powerful levers for business expansion, but also one of the most complex and high-risk. Despite significant deal activity globally, many deals fail to achieve their intended value, often due to late or ineffective integration and value creation planning.  

By combining Oaklin’s transformation and delivery expertise with BTD’s 25+ years of specialist experience across M&A, separations and alliance management, the practice provides comprehensive support across the full deal lifecycle - from strategy, due diligence, and transaction management to lasting value creation post-close. 

Carlos Keener, Founding Partner of Beyond the Deal, added, “This combination is about unlocking the full potential of inorganic growth for our clients, with one of the very few groups that truly shares our core principles and culture. By joining Oaklin, we can now offer our combined clients the specialist expertise they expect from BTD, supplemented by Oaklin’s scale and breadth of capabilities and services. It’s a powerful proposition for any organisation looking to grow with confidence." 

The combined M&A and Inorganic Growth Practice will offer: 

  • Comprehensive international services across M&A and integration, separations and divestments, and alliances/JVs. 
  • Significantly enhanced specialist expertise in M&A, with Carlos Keener, Founding Partner of BTD, alongside partner Nick Palmer and the entire BTD team joining forces with the Oaklin team. 
  • Senior-led, independent advisory and delivery, complementing legal and banking advisors while keeping client objectives front and centre. 
  • Proven IP, methodologies, and proprietary frameworks, including BTD’s Value-Inflection Points and other tools developed over 25 years of client delivery. 
  • Access to Oaklin’s broader capabilities spanning technology, operating model design, transformation, and change management. 

Through this acquisition and the development of the practice, Oaklin aims to be recognised globally as the ‘go-to’ partner for ambitious organisations seeking to grow through M&A and strategic partnerships while delivering sustainable value. 

Integration underway in 2026  

The integration of BTD into Oaklin will take place through the first half of 2026, with joint teams already collaborating on client engagements. The combined practice will continue to invest in new tools, thought leadership, and AI-driven innovations to accelerate value creation for clients. A series of client briefings and insight publications will be launched in the coming months. 

BTD clients can expect continuity of relationships, teams and expertise, now supported by Oaklin’s scale and broader consulting capabilities. For the wider market, the combined firm represents an alternative to traditional strategic advisors: a senior-led, independent consultancy that shapes deals by staying with you to deliver results. 

For enquiries: 
enquiries@oaklin.com | +44 (0)20 3855 5865 
oaklin.com