What is Datasite?

Datasite (formerly Merrill Corporation) is a global SaaS company that provides deal lifecycle management for M&A professionals. Datasite earns trust from investment banks, law firms, and corporate dealmakers. It offers a secure, AI-powered platform that speeds up and simplifies complex transactions beyond just file storage.

Datasite’s recent strategic growth & acquisitions

Datasite grows quickly through acquisitions and global expansion to improve its M&A technology services. This helps Datasite offer better tools and reach more clients in the mergers and acquisitions market.

Acquisition Core capabilities Strategic benefits for M&A
Ansarada
Deal Preparation & Intelligent Data Rooms
  • AI-driven document organization
  • Automated Q&A systems
  • Bidder management tools
  • Accelerates early-stage deal preparation
  • Enhances due diligence efficiency
  • Streamlines stakeholder communication
Sealk
AI-Powered Search & Content Intelligence
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP)
  • Semantic search technology
  • Advanced document analytics
  • Reduces document review time by 40-60%
  • Uncovers critical insights in complex deals
  • Improves the accuracy of due diligence
Firmex
Secure File Sharing & Subscription VDRs
  • Enterprise-grade security protocols
  • Flexible subscription models
  • Granular permission controls
  • Expands service offerings for mid-market deals
  • Provides scalable solutions for all deal sizes
  • Enhances data security across transactions

Datasite’s virtual data room capabilities

Datasite data room is designed for large-scale, complex deals like M&A, IPOs, restructurings, and divestitures. The platform has advanced AI and robust security to streamline deal workflows and improve efficiency. Here are some of the features Datasite offers:

  • AI-powered redaction
    Automatically detects and redacts sensitive information in documents across multiple languages.
  • OCR & auto-indexing
    Converts scanned documents into searchable text and auto-organizes them for easy retrieval.
  • Real-time analytics & deal tracking
    Provides dashboards and insights on user activity, document engagement, and deal progress.
  • Granular user permissions
    Allows precise control over who can view, download, or print specific documents or folders.
  • Role-based access & secure Q&A
    Assigns permissions by role and offers a secure Q&A module for controlled communication.
  • Global access & multilingual support
    Offers worldwide access, multilingual interfaces, and mobile compatibility.

Security and compliance features

Trusted by global dealmakers for high-stakes M&A, Datasite evolves your business and ensures enterprise-grade security at every stage. The following security features are crucial and help both acquirers and target company representatives manage high-stake M&A transactions:

  • ISO 27001 certified
    An internationally recognized standard for information security management.
  • GDPR & CCPA compliant
    Meets strict data privacy regulations for the EU and California.
  • Global data hosting
    Secure hosting options across multiple regions (US, EU, APAC).
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA)
    Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a mandatory extra layer of login security.
  • Role-based access controls
    Granular permissions for users (view, edit, download).
  • Fully auditable trails
    Detailed logs of all user activity, including document access and edits.

Pricing & support

Datasite offers flexible data room pricing that fits both startups and enterprises. They don’t publish a standard price list like many other VDRs. Instead, they tailor enterprise pricing to each project.
You can request a free demo or trial to see the platform in action.

Their team also provides 24/7 multilingual support, assigns dedicated account managers, and guides you through M&A-specific onboarding workflows to ensure a smooth start. Here are the pricing models it offers:

Pricing model Best for Key features
Per-deal pricing One-off transactions
  • Fixed cost per data room
  • Scalable user seats
  • Included support tier
Volume commitments Frequent dealmakers (10+ deals/yr)
  • Discounted rate tiers
  • Rollover unused capacity
  • Priority support
Enterprise SaaS Large firms with steady deal flow
  • Unlimited deal rooms
  • Dedicated infrastructure
  • Custom SLAs
Add-on modules Specialized needs
  • AI/ML enabled tools
  • Premium analytics
  • API integrations

Advantages of Datasite

Here’s why leading firms trust Datasite.

1. Deep M&A expertise

  • Built by dealmakers, for dealmakers — decades of experience in complex transactions
  • Industry-tailored workflows for private equity, corporate development, and legal advisors
  • Guided best practices to accelerate due diligence and closing

2. AI-powered efficiency

  • Smart automation for document organization, redaction, and Q&A
  • Natural language search to instantly surface critical deal insights
  • Predictive analytics to identify risks and opportunities faster

3. Global deal enablement ecosystem

  • Seamless cross-border transactions with localized compliance support
  • 24/7 multilingual assistance for global deal teams
  • Integrated partner network (banking, legal, consulting) for end-to-end execution

Who uses Datasite?

Datasite is considered one of the best data rooms for investment banking, legal deals, and other virtual data room clients. This data room solution is used by:

User type Primary use cases Industries served
Investment banks
  • Sell-side M&A advisory
  • IPO preparation
  • Debt financing
Finance, Cross-sector
Law firms
  • Due diligence management
  • Contract lifecycle
  • Regulatory compliance
Legal, All sectors
Private equity firms
  • Portfolio acquisitions
  • Divestitures
  • LP reporting
Finance, Industrials, Healthcare
Venture capital
  • Startup investments
  • Cap table management
  • Exit planning
Technology, Biotech
Corporate development
  • Strategic acquisitions
  • Joint ventures
  • Carve-outs
Technology, Life Sciences, Energy

Why Datasite is more than just a data room for investment

While virtual data rooms are the foundation of secure dealmaking, Datasite provides a platform to help investment teams manage every stage of the deal lifecycle. This includes both deal preparation and post-merger integration (PMI).

Whether you manage a single transaction or a global portfolio, Datasite scales with your needs. For its users, Datasite offers more than a secure VDR. It also provides: 

  • AI-driven insights for faster decision-making
  • Collaboration tools for cross-team alignment
  • Integrated workflows that eliminate manual processes

Final verdict

For M&A professionals who demand more than just a data room, Datasite delivers a complete M&A platform built for security, speed, and scalability. Datasite can be a long-term partner that grows with your deal flow. So, whether you’re doing a one-off transaction or managing a portfolio, Datasite allows you to close the deals with confidence.

Features

File Formats Supported
Any file types can be uploaded. PDF and MS Office files can be viewed, any other file types must be downloaded to view
Automatic Numerical Indexing of Files & Folders yes
Drag & Drop Upload of Multiple Files and Folders yes
Desktop Synchronization no
Archives Upload & Extraction no
Export of Data Room Index to Excel yes
Document Version Control yes
Multilingual Documents Index no
Granular Document Permissions yes
View-Only Access yes
Prevention of Download, Print and Copy yes
Remote Shredding of Documents no
Customizable Document Watermarks yes
Secure Fence View no
Document Access Expiry no
256-Bit SSL/TLS Encryption yes
Data at Rest Encryption yes
99.9% Uptime Guarantee yes
ISO 27001 Certified yes
SOC 2 Certified no
SSAE 16 Certified no
Data Backup yes
Virus Scanning no
Two-Factor Authentications yes
Mobile Device Management yes
Granular User Permissions yes
Permission Groups yes
Access Expiration yes
Access Limitation by IP Address no