Dealcast: The M&A Podcast

“We can see every risk or dislocation as an opportunity.”  Although fundraising, exits, and investment have slowed, this is how Pamela Fung, a managing director and partner on Morgan Stanley's Private Equity Solutions team, sees the current state of private equity investment in Asia.Perceived risk has increased in the region in recent years amid China’s regulatory reset, tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and now war in the Middle East. In this episode of Dealcast, Fung joins Justin Niessner, the associate editor of the Asian Venture Capital Journal, to discuss where opportunity lies in the region. From deep innovation happening in areas like Chinese AI and robotics to underpenetrated industries in countries where many national economies show potential for “leapfrog” growth.  This episode explores: why GPs need to be hands-on with Asian investments, how policy initiatives and talent pools in countries like India are encouraging for investors, and how Morgan Stanley’s research aims to demystify the region.

The SEC is somewhat unsurprisingly shifting “back to basics” under the Trump 2.0 administration, according to Edward Best, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher on the corporate and financial services team and co-chair of the capital markets practice. During the Biden presidency, the agency focused on technical violations and retrieved billions of dollars in settlements, whereas the current leadership is focusing more on protecting investors and making capital markets more efficient, Best argues.In this episode of Dealcast, Best joins Mergermarket’s co-head of Americas ECM Troy Hooper, to discuss how this shift in agenda is impacting capital markets. They discuss how the SEC is trying to simplify IPO processes and why it’s considering moving away from quarterly to semi-annual reporting for public companies.The episode explores what kinds of deals are doing well, from follow-on offerings to IPOs. It looks at the shift away from startups to more established companies with well-founded financials. It also delves into the companies and industries that are perhaps less flashy, but are drawing increasing IPO interest, like construction companies, retail businesses, and widget-makers.With questions addressed like, which companies could be listing this year, why the market has seen a resurgence of SPACs over the last twelve months, and how volatility is impacting investor decision making, this episode is not one to miss.

“A land of opportunity” full of “hidden champions” across strategic sectors. That’s how Eurazeo co-CEOs William Kadouch-Chassaing and Christophe Bavière class Europe, as the Paris-listed sponsor eyes deployment opportunities from energy transition and defence through to tech-enabled services and healthcare.In this week’s episode of Dealcast, the co-CEOs engage in a wide-ranging discussion with Mergermarket executive editor Lucinda Guthrie, painting a dynamic picture of a continent decisively embracing a pro-competitiveness agenda, particularly at the European Union (EU) level.Amid efforts to unlock insurance and pension fund cash for investment in GPs, Bavière and Kadouch-Chassaing run the rule on how the EU is also building an AI sandbox and creating conditions for scale-ups to remain in Europe, creating a strong primary buyout pipeline.With EUR 39bn in assets under management, Eurazeo’s co-CEOs lift the hood on how to pitch LPs on investment across Europe’s strategic pillars, explore the firm’s approach to evergreen capital and reveal their approach to attracting the continent’s best entrepreneurs.Given Europeans are sitting on EUR 35tn in savings, Bavière and Kadouch-Chassaing believe the opportunity to deploy to build new European champions is massive, with the EU’s focus on sovereignty a key card to play in a fractured geopolitical environment.

As 2026 kicks off, many GPs are beginning to assess exits for assets they purchased at peak valuation and with cheap debt in the 2020/2021 period. Sponsor entrances for that period were just shy of EUR 300bn, representing the busiest year ever for M&A.Rachel Lewis, Mergermarket’s co-head of news in Europe, has compiled a data report looking at the situation with this vintage class now that typical hold periods are coming to an end. Lewis joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss how sponsors are attempting to realize liquidity, with around two-thirds of assets from that time still unrealized.This episode explores why conditions were so good in 2020/2021 and why the market hasn’t recovered from a subsequent dip in 2022. It looks into which sectors are doing well, like industrials and chemicals, and why investors are more “risk off” when it comes to software assets. They also discuss how successful exits have taken shape and the methods investors are using, including specialty deal terms, to bridge the valuation gap.This Dealcast answers questions such as: Why aren’t dual track processes as popular as they were expected to be at the start of year? Which particular deals stand out? How are geopolitics are impacting market conditions? And can LPs forgive a bad vintage?

Seema Hingorani, managing director and member of the Operating Committee at Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) talks to Lucinda Guthrie, executive editor at Mergermarket in this episode of Dealcast marking International Women’s Day.Investing “where nobody’s looking” opens up the prospect of making a “boatload of money”, and when this means allocating to diverse teams allocators are changing the world as they do this, Hingorani argues.Hingorani reflects on her own storied journey as an asset allocator from hedge fund entrepreneurship, through to her tenure until 2014 as CIO of New York City Retirement Systems, which had assets of USD 160bn to her current role at Morgan Stanley Investment Management.Struck by the lack of female talent within the industry, Hingorani noted the major opportunity cost not only for women who could build outstanding careers but also for investors lacking a range of perspectives for how to put their money to work.This observation led her to found Girls Who Invest in 2015, an institution that continues to build awareness of career pathways in the investment world and now counts 4,000 alumni across 200 universities.From talent development to retention and investor returns to public service, this episode is a fascinating insight into a major Wall Street player at the top of her game, who has created a movement that is attracting and training top female talent into the finance industry.

Around the world, many LPs are looking to diversify away from the US' recent instability. So how are investors viewing Asia and what is happening on the ground?The Asian Venture Capital Journal’s (AVCJ) managing editor Tim Burroughs joins AVCJ’s associate editor Justin Niessner to discuss what is driving investors to diversify into Asia and what challenges they face in the region.In this Dealcast, the two discuss how Asia is perceived as a market with good deals and less expensive valuations. For example, many firms are able to gain a foothold in the AI market at a lower price than they could in the US. Those comfortable with the geopolitics in China may see even more opportunities to diversify.This episode also explores: How sovereign wealth funds factoring into private equity in Asia. Whether Japan and India are still the favourites of the region. And how fund managers are viewing a pan-regional approach.

After the Trump administration revoked the 2009 Endangerment Finding that underpinned federal actions curbing greenhouse gases in February 2026, there is a sense that we are reaching a peak of anti-ESG sentiment.However, Professor Michel Driessen, director of Bayes Business School’s M&A Research Centre and chair of Queen’s Tower Advisory, argues environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues should be treated as a substantial business risk – and ignored at business owners’ peril.ESG policies are more than just the “E”, though the term has become highly politicized, with a heavy focus on the environmental aspects.Companies have gone from greenwashing a few years ago to “green hiding” today, making it difficult for investors to assess the financial value of ESG measures that are going underreported.At a time when anti-ESG sentiment feels rampant, Driessen, co-author of Green Gold: How Sustainability Creates Deal Value, joins Mergermarket’s global executive editor Lucinda Guthrie to discuss the importance of these measures in M&A.In this episode of Dealcast, the guests explore questions including: When will anti-ESG sentiment start to cool? How can AI support ESG reporting? And why are the palm oil industry and Boohoo such a good case studies for the complexities of ESG beyond just environmental standards?Green Gold: How Sustainability Creates Deal Value will be available from 26 February.

"This merger of policy and antitrust is not specific to the US. It's a global phenomenon,” says Jenn Mellott, managing partner at Freshfields working in both Washington DC and Brussels.What began five years ago - with the Biden administration’s broadening of antitrust to consider more than just what is best for the consumer - has become an increasingly popular strategy around the world to serve policy goals. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have been utilizing antitrust as a political tool to address different policy issues from labor issues to domestic supply chain concerns. In this week’s Dealcast, Mellott, who works on competition cases both sides of the pond and has represented companies such as Adobe, Starbucks, and AstraZeneca, joins Mergermarket’s global chief regulatory editor, Reuben Miller. Together they discuss how political agendas, alongside geopolitical tensions, are impacting dealmaking and driving the need for a strong global narrative in large transactions.The episode explores how international deals could face speedbumps with national governments that may be misaligned on initiatives, like ESG. The conversation dives into which countries, like the UK and China, are using their regulatory bodies to address local or regional policy priorities. Mellott and Miller also discuss the role of state attorneys general in the US, and how they are impacting deals in the Trump 2.0 administration. This Dealcast explores questions like: what is "America First" antitrust? Which sectors are facing increased regulatory scrutiny? How does foreign direct investment screening influence transactions? And what is the role of lobbyists in getting deal approvals?

“For the last three years, did you know -- that the secondary market’s been larger than the IPO market in terms of transaction volume?” that’s what Moelis & Company Managing Director Paul Sanabria said to showcase the immensely increased popularity of secondaries over the last couple of decades. The secondaries market of the 1970s looked quite different than it does today, originating then as an opportunistic solution for LP liquidity, with some of its early pioneers including VCFA, Landmark and Coller.In this week’s Dealcast, Tom Cane, Mergermarket’s funds editor is joined by Jeff Hammer and Paul Sanabria, Managing Directors at Moelis & Company’s private capital advisory group, where they help lead the firm’s global secondaries practice. They discuss how a niche, opportunistic corner of private markets has transformed into a sophisticated, multi‑strategy global capital market exceeding USD 220bn in annual volumes.The discussion charts the secondaries market journey from early LP‑driven trades, through the GP‑led restructurings of the 2010s, to today’s GP‑led “2.0” landscape defined by trophy assets, direct‑sponsor strategies, and a surge of new capital sources.The podcast also explores which direct sponsors are launching secondaries strategies like New Mountain and Warburg Pincus, as well as the traditional asset managers, like Blackstone, that are joining in.With answers to questions like: how does one define trophy assets? Are GP‑leds becoming standard exit paths alongside M&A and IPO? What could the next decade look like for secondaries?This episode is not one to miss.

“You can be much more ambitious” in driving global M&A transactions given a vibe shift in agency approaches to merger control, says James Webber, Chemicals & Industrials sector lead and antitrust partner at A&O Shearman. Following the abandonment of the Biden-era neo-Brandeisian settlement in the US; an embrace of industrial strategy and resilience building at the European Commission (EC); and a growth-focused reset at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, dealmakers can now embrace the “art of the possible”.In this week’s Dealcast, Webber joins John West, Mergermarket’s Global Commentary Editor, to discuss how the EC’s impending shake-up of its merger guidelines and a proposed structural overhaul at the CMA will define M&A prospects in the coming year.With agencies having to balance traditional consumer welfare concerns against growth imperatives and geopolitical risk management, merger parties will need to lay groundwork with regulators, consider the social and industrial dimensions of their deals, and engage with customers as never before if they want to move from audacious announcements to closed deals.Taking in European petrochemicals consolidation, the continent’s beleaguered steel industry and telecommunications mergers, this episode is a window into how regulatory moves both sides of the Channel will frame dealmaker decisions as they seek to realise the M&A pipeline.

Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham is joined by Head of Americas Energy Carlos Martinez to break down the Venezuela angle and the mining consolidation wave, while Global Commentary Editor John West examines the broader geopolitical backdrop – and why deep‑tier supply chain due diligence is fast becoming a critical value‑creation lever for corporates and private equity.

If successful, the initial public offers (IPOs) of OpenAI and SpaceX could help global equity capital markets (ECM) break records this year.In this week’s podcast, Sam Kerr, Mergermarket’s global ECM editor, sits with Dealcast host, Julie-Anna Needham, to discuss why the listings of the leading generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and spacetech companies are attracting so much attention.GenAI company OpenAI could seek to raise USD 60bn with a valuation for the largely debt-free company above USD 1tn. The developer of ChatGPT will test investor confidence in the sector, as well as providing feedback on fears of a bubble. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's SpaceX is another listing that would set valuation and capital-raise records, with bankers currently lining up to win the mandate. This episode also looks at increases in defense spending and new geopolitical conflicts, most recently in Venezuela, and threats to other regions could continue to bolster the industry.

“We’re about year three” in a seven-year M&A cycle that will see 2026 and 2027 sustain the astonishing deal growth seen this past 12 months. That’s the bold claim of Liz Claydon, global head of deal advisory and global sector lead for Life Sciences at KPMG. In this week’s Dealcast, Claydon joins Lucinda Guthrie, global executive editor at Mergermarket, to discuss how global CEOs have adjusted to technological and geopolitical disruption by seizing the opportunity to reshape their corporate footprints via transformational M&A. At USD 4.81tn, 2025’s global M&A haul has been underpinned by 70 megadeals worth more than USD 10bn. Claydon and Guthrie unpack how trade tensions have kicked off a race for pureplay scale – and explore the extent to which AI is not only driving deal planning, but also value creation execution.Taking in Jared Kushner’s flight from the Warner Bros. Discovery tussle, amid the biggest haul of North American listed dealmaking since 2007; the M&A financing environment in a world of rich valuations; and shifting investor sentiment towards inbound China dealmaking, this episode is a one-stop-shop for practitioners window dressing before year-end – and running the rule on next year’s pipeline.

Reuben Miller, Mergermarket’s global chief regulatory editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the complexities of Paramount's bid, which is one of the largest hostile deals on record. How could Paramount's attorney could prove instrumental in pushing its bid forward?How could Netflix improve its regulatory position?Whoever wins, what will be the impact on the media landscape and everyday consumers?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Patrick Harris, Mergermarket’s senior editor based in London, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the complexities of the deal, including:Where the new Anglo Teck company could be domiciled and how that will be reconciled with each company’s strong national ties;How the Canadian government could push for more stipulations for the deal, like Canadian investment and job creation;Which other large mining strategics could be possible acquirers of the new entity from Rio Tinto to Glencore and how the merger itself may be a defensive move on Anglo American's part;Whether Anglo American's ongoing disposals could potentially impact the deal.All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Justin Niessner, Associate Editor of the AVCJ, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss this year’s forum and its key takeaways, including:Which countries, like Japan and India, are seeing the most investor interestWhat makes Asia compelling to investors – including factors like increased urbanization, digitalization, and the rise of the middle classWhich firms are investing in Asia, like KKR’s recent purchase of China-based Dayao BeveragesWhat macro themes are encompassing the region from ESG and the impact of US tariffs to AIAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

In this week’s episode of Dealcast, Mergermarket Global Commentary Editor John West sits down with London-based BCLP private equity partner Perry Yam to unpack the Budget’s impact on the British sponsor scene.

Sam Kerr, Mergermarket’s global ECM editor and head of Mergermarket in EMEA, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the global ECM outlook, including:Why the end of the US government shutdown may not lead to a flurry of new listings, potentially forcing IPOs to 1Q26;How the US markets have performed and which listings haven’t been able to maintain their outsized pops from their IPO date;How companies are faring on the LSE, including Shawbrook, Beauty Tech, and Princes, and what the signaling about the country's budget could mean;How the potential AI bubble could impact markets worldwide.All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Arezki Yaiche, Mergermarket’s France-based bureau chief, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the French political situation and its impact on the business community, including:How the political turmoil began when President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election in 2024 and why it has persisted;What items could be up for debate in the budget, like a possible end to an R&D tax rebate that has encouraged family offices and other investors to fund tech companies;How the instability is impacting France’s credit rating and foreign investor sentiment;Which unicorns stand out amid the chaos, like Mistral AI, and why particular industries may continue to perform well.All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

John West, Mergermarket’s global commentary editor and author of our weekly Continental Drift column, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss how corporates can navigate the new trade realities, along with other macroeconomic risks and opportunities. What is the real impact of First Brands and Tricolor on capital markets pipelines?How strong are the parallels between the boom in AI investment and the dotcom bubble?Could M&A financing become more expensive even if the Federal Reserve cuts rates?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Reuben Miller, Mergermarket’s global chief regulatory editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss why the antitrust review of the deal is likely to be relatively straightforward, despite the risks from other processes.Could China seek concessions from the Trump administration in the midst of the ongoing trade war?Will the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US give PIF an easy ride given the involvement of Trump’s family?Could regulators seek a data firewall to prevent PIF gaining full access to information on EA’s gamers?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Carlos Martinez, Mergermarket’s energy editor in the Americas, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the energy landscape including:Which sponsors are investing in a wider range of energy assets, like BlackRock’s recent agreement to purchase utility company AES for USD 38bnWhy the changing approach to utilities investments may spark state-level policy pushback in the USWhy more renewable energy-focused investors may begin to look toward opportunities in CanadaHow strategics are circling energy investments by funding plants and entering into power purchase agreementsAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Simon Segal, Mergermarket’s Australia director, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the behind the scenes of the deal, including:Why the deal fell apart, looking at potential regulatory factors, foreign investment dynamics, and the landscape of Australia’s guarded domestic energy sector;Which other bidders have tried and failed to purchase Santos and why;What could be next for Santos, including which assets shareholders may look for it to spin out and, conversely, which upcoming facilities could burgeon the business.All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Brian Yue, Mergermarket’s New York-based consumer reporter, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss dealmaking in the beauty sector, including:How trending, well-branded assets have overcrowded the space, refocusing buyers' attention toward science-backed or dermatology-focused companies;Which companies have successfully transacted, looking at examples like the sale of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode to e.l.f. Beauty for USD 1bn;How consumer spending and larger factors are impacting beauty sector dealmaking;All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Johannes Baier, a founding partner at Rohde Baier, and Aurelia Seidlhofer, Mergermarket’s Munich-based senior correspondent, join Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the emergence of search funds in DACH. Topics include:Why these funds can offer more flexibility and tailor-made solutions for investors over typical structures like private equity;Why search funds are gaining popularity in DACH, particularly in Germany's Mittelstand (export-focused SMEs);The outlook for the emerging category as banks become more familiar with financing these transactions;The exit timelines and typical return expectations for investors and entrepreneurs involved in search funds.All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Troy Hooper, Mergermarket’s North America Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the trend of dual-track de-SPAC deals, including:What exactly is a SPAC is and how does the de-SPAC process work?Why is Kyivstar's de-SPAC deal significant?What is driving the revitalized popularity of SPACs? Why are these deals popular with life sciences and digital asset companies?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

The cybersecurity industry is based around three pillars: identity management (like CyberArk and ForgeRock), network management (like Palo Alto) and end-point security (also provided by Palo Alto).Will the DoJ be concerned about Palo Alto bundling the three pillars together?How has regulatory thinking on bundling theory evolved from US President Joe Biden’s administration to President Donald Trump’s?Will officials under Trump continue to take a hard line on tech consolidation in general? And how about cybersecurity in particular?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

The banking sector has seen rapid change over the last decade, and the new landscape offers opportunities for traditional banks, challenger banks, and fintech startups alike.In the deal space, Mergermarket’s data shows around 120 financial institutions that may IPO in Europe including big names like Klarna and Revolute. Banks are also developing M&A plans for fintech service companies, and some fintechs are looking to merge and create larger platforms.Thomas Krecek, an M&A Partner in Clifford Chance’s Frankfurt office focusing on financial services and co-head of Clifford Chance’s European Corporate M&A Practice, and Rupert Cocke, one of Mergermarket’s Europe-based senior editors, join Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for the banking sector, including:How antitrust bodies and a lack of global banking regulations in cross-border dealmaking impact the outlook for potential dealsThe role of private equity in the fintech corporate ecosystem, and how their capital is likely to help fintechs in the next stage of globalizingWhich firms, like Advent and its purchase of Bulgarian-based tbi bank, showcase the new trends in the industryHow entities like Unicredit offer a showcase of a new playbook to approach banking deals in EuropeAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Patrick Harris, Mergermarket’s senior editor based in London, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for mining deals, including:Which deals are showcasing the overall trend, like IRH’s acquisitions of mines in Zambia or the Qatari’s sovereign wealth fund's investment in TechMet, an Irish company that recycles lithium batteriesWhich minerals, like lithium and copper, are critical for electrification and seeing significant investor interestPotential opportunities for mining in the Middle East itself, like Saudi Arabia’s alleged USD 2.5 trn worth of minerals available to be minedAll this and more in this weeks Dealcast.

Thiago Barrozo Mergermarket’s Latin America editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss potential outcomes with US tariffs looming, including:Which political factors play into the imposition of such heavy tariffs on the countryWhich sectors are likely to be most impacted by tariffs like logistics and specific agribusiness subsectors, including beef and coffee productionWhich Brazilian companies, like Embraer, are already seeing impacts caused by the announcement of potential tariffsWhich other export markets Brazilian companies could be exploring from the EU to ChinaAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

While the first half of the year was one of the worst for equity capital markets globally, some investors are beginning to feel optimistic despite continuing tariff uncertainty and global conflicts.Volatility is not going away, but investors are showing a resiliency in their ability to ignore headlines and continue investing in strong IPO stories and strategies. Aside from new listings, there is significant demand for large liquid block trades, particularly in Europe.Sam Kerr, Mergermarket’s global ECM editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss a regional breakdown of the state of equity capital markets worldwide including:Which IPOs could be coming to London’s stock exchange, including names like Hg Capital’s VismaWhy block trades are where the real business is happening in greater Europe and which private equity firms are selling down listed holdingsWhy China is beginning to look to Hong Kong for dual listings rather than the US exchangesWhich deals may be successful on the US markets and why names like Klarna and StubHub are still struggling to come to marketAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Rupert Cocke, Mergermarket’s senior editor based in Barcelona, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for European? defense sector dealmaking including:Which defense-related companies have already undergone significant raises, like Multiverse Computing’s EUR 190m funding round in JuneHow some private equity firms' early involvement in deep tech could help curb risks from uncertain wait times related to research and developmentWhy certain firms are already bullish on investing in reconstruction and restoration in UkraineWhy ESG standards may be restrictive for LPs looking into defense investments and may favor more dual-use or cybersecurity focused companiesAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Mergermarket’s China editor Ling Yang joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss how China is taking measures beyond reciprocal tariffs, including:Which Chinese companies are actively eyeing carveouts and divestitures of their US business segmentsHow recent events will likely lead to delays in Chinese companies' planned US investment projects, like Envision Group’s pause on construction at its US-based battery manufacturing plantHow mechanisms like ADRs and variable interest equity (VIEs) work to allow Chinese companies to list on US exchangesWhy Chinese companies are considering the Hong Kong and other foreign stock exchanges over the NYSE and what the process to move listings would entailAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

arlos Martinez, Mergermarket’s head of energy coverage in the Americas, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for the Mexican energy sector including:How these changes were taking shape prior to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s current governmentWhat this means for Mexico’s renewable energy sector, especially as traditional energy like oil production continues to steadily decline in the countryWhich other large energy companies are exiting the country and divesting their Mexican operationsWhy this will likely drive JVs and partnerships especially with existing domestic contractorsAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Charlie Taylor-Kroll, Mergermarket’s UK bureau chief, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for the UK tech deals including:The details of another "merger Monday" deal announced on the same day - IonQ’s purchase of Oxford Ionics for more than USD 1bnWhy UK tech companies are being targeted by US strategics and sponsorsWhy Craneware is resisting the trend by rejecting an offer from Bain CapitalAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Arezki Yaiche, Mergermarket’s France bureau chief, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for the European luxury sector including:Why luxury brands could shift to focus on new markets like the UAE and SingaporeWhich deals follow the trend of localizing manufacturing, like Prada’s recent purchase of VersaceWhich brands may consider moving production to US manufacturing sitesWhy we could see more non-core asset divestitures and who could consider those divestituresAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Yale Yee, founding partner of Telos Advisors, joined Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham at The Podcast Show 2025 in London to discuss why we can expect to see more players from outside audio buying podcast players.Why did PodX buy Lemonda Media; and why did Acast buy Wonder Media Network (WMN)? What will buysiders look for in podcast deals? And what will drive the sellside?How will artificial intelligence (AI) disrupt the podcast industryAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Thiago Barrozo, Mergermarket’s Latin America editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for Brazilian deals hinging off Totvs/Linx including: Which other companies made bids for Linx?Why did Stone cut its price expectations?What happened the first time Totvs tried to buy the target in 2020?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Rachel Stone, Mergermarket’s Charlottesville bureau chief, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss why the payments segment is still attractive for buyers, despite global trade tensions. What is the mood like on the buyside?What are the implications of trade uncertainties for due diligence processes?Why is Stanley Black & Decker a name to watch in the months ahead?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Aurelia Seidlhofer, Mergermarket’s Munich-based senior correspondent for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH), joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss why Europe’s biggest economy will continue to be a force to reckon with.Will increased defence spending help companies in other verticals develop dual-use products and services?Will we see more carve-out deals in Germany’s chemicals sector?What are the challenges and opportunities for the Mittelstand market, which refers to industry-focussed, innovative, and export-orientated mid-cap companies.All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Mergermarket’s Head of Auctions EMEA Rachel Lewis joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss how live and expected auctions are faring. How far things have been shaken up after a solid 1Q25Which types of deals are shielded from falloutDeal outlook after VIX and EURO STOXX recoveryAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast

Australia’s public markets have taken a hit but recently rallied after the US announced a 90-day pause on tariffs. However, the pause didn’t actually change anything for Australia, unlike some other markets. It still faces the initial 10% tariff the US has imposed on all its imports, which has not been altered.Some relief to the uncertainty in recent tariff announcements caused the ASX to experience similar confidence alongside other global markets. But the impacts of the tariffs will remain significant. China, for example, still faces 145% tariffs, and is one of Australia’s biggest trading partners.Australia’s markets have also seen the lowest number of new listings in 20 years, as of 2024 data, amid independent regulatory issues and an increasingly strong private credit environment.Louise Weihart, Mergermarket’s Sydney-based reporter joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for Australian IPOs including:What'a happening with potential IPO greenshoots on the ASX like Virgin Airlines and GemLife How tariffs on certain sectors could hit Australia in particular, like Trump’s next target: pharmaceuticalsHow strong regulatory measures for IPOs, like ESG standards, may have made listings more difficult in the countryAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

In the days after Trump's "liberation day," equity capital markets are feeling the limiting impacts of the US' sweeping tariffs. Trump’s blanket imposition of 10% tariffs on all US imports is rattling its global trading partners but will likely have the worst impact on Americans – both in the markets and on the cost of goods for everyday citizens.On the ECM front, global markets are spiraling, with European indices red across the board and America’s markets also on shaky ground. CoreWeave’s IPO was meant to be a success burgeoned by AI hype, but in reality Nvidia saved the deal as investor scrutiny increased and markets faced uncertainty.While the US remains a massive services exporter, particularly of cultural items like movies and music, retaliatory steps could look to hamper the value of America's exports and affect American influence.Sam Kerr, Mergermarket’s London-based Global ECM Editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the impact of tariffs on global markets, including:A look at Europe and China’s retaliatory measures – and why tariffs on US cultural and services exports could be the next stepWhy Asia did not react as badly to Trump’s sweeping tariffs and how China may be insulated against some tariff measuresWhy advisors may delay IPO issuances and how that could impact companies slated for listing like Klarna, Circle, and StubHubA look into why CoreWeave’s IPO didn’t go as expected and why it’s likely not a particularly liquid stock

Natalie McNelis, Mergermarket’s new Brussels bureau chief, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss why the potential scrutiny of this transaction was “surprising;” and how unexpected FSR reviews could throw deal timetables into disarray.Why are dealmakers in Europe nervous that Teresa Ribera, the new competition commissioner, might adopt a harder line than her predecessor, Margrethe Vestager?Why will Safran’s proposal to offer Phase I remedies in its takeover of Collins Aerospace's actuation and flight control business be an interesting test case?What can we expect to see in European scrutiny of Mars’ takeover of Kellanova and Prosus' acquisition of Just Eat Takeaway?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Google’s acquisition of Wiz is its largest-ever deal and comes with impressive reverse break feeRegulatory scrutiny of the deal will act as bellwether of the US regulatory environmentGoogle’s USD 32bn all-cash offer for multicloud player Wiz is likely to act as the starting pistol on a new wave of tech deals.The proposal to buy Wiz is the tech giant's largest-ever deal and also comes with one of the tech industry’s most significant reverse termination fees. Start-ups in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and cybersecurity are increasingly likely to receive approaches from major tech players in the wake of this deal, which will act as a bellwether for the regulatory mood in the US.Troy Hooper, a California-based Mergermarket journalist covering the tech industry, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss why Google’s second offer for the company was successful.Could the US Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new chair, Andrew N. Ferguson, prove more welcoming to tech deals than his predecessor, Lina Khan?Why did Wiz drop its plans to hold an initial public offer (IPO)?Will the cybersecurity aspects of Wiz’s business attract regulatory scrutiny?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

Iñaki Miguel, Mergermarket’s senior Iberian correspondent, and Carlos Martínez, the publication’s Canada editor, join Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss why this deal will be such a significant milestone for the Spanish company when it comes.Could Mexico’s new telecoms regulator challenge the deal if Walmart wins the auction? Will Telefónica maintain a position in Brazil?Why has Spain’s State Company for Industrial Investments (SEPI) promoted a management change at the Madrid-based company?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast.

In our first regular feature on equities, Sam Kerr, Mergermarket’s Global ECM Editor, joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss how big selldowns in names like Italian luxury automobile giant Ferrari and Swiss pharmaceutical conglomerate Novartis are driving the European market.Despite the success of European selldowns, why did the IPO of Spanish travel-tech company HBX Group fall flat? What went wrong with the IPO of US liquified natural gas (LNG) producer Venture Global?Are US President Donald Trump's policy decisions affecting the mood, or would the ECM markets have turned regardless?All this and more in this week’s Dealcast

Aurelia Seidlhofer, Mergermarket’s Munich-based senior reporter joins Dealcast host Julie-Anna Needham to discuss the outlook for dealmaking in Germany and Europe as a whole, including:How US policies could push European M&A and potentially create pan-European championsHow CDU campaign points like lowering energy prices and investing in infrastructure could boost dealmaking in GermanyWhy German companies may look at buying US companies, while Germany and Europe at large may simultaneously become more critical of US investments at homeWhich big assets are already in the pipeline, such as TenneT GermanyAll this and more in this week’s Dealcast.