Dieunor Michel

Deal Alchemist

Business EN ↓ 5 episodes

Deal Alchemist turns complex mergers and acquisitions into simple stories you can use. Each week, two hosts break down one real deal in plain English: what happened, why it happened, how it was done, and what changed after. We cover the facts, the strategy, the structure, the risks, and the early results—so operators, students, and investors can learn fast. You'll hear clear takeaways like: buy for a reason, price with discipline, and integrate to value. No jargon. No fluff. Just a deep dive that helps you think like a smart buyer. This podcast was founded by Dieunor Michel, who is also the fo...

Author

Dieunor Michel

Episodes

How Netflix Paid $686 Million for Roald Dahl and Built an IP Empire 19.10.2025 13:06

In September 2021, Netflix secured a foundational asset for the streaming wars by acquiring the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) for over $686 million (more than £500 million). This episode breaks down the transaction that transformed Netflix from a temporary content licensee into the exclusive, perpetual owner of some of the world's most beloved intellectual property (IP), including Matilda ,...

WarnerMedia × Discovery: Inside the $65.3B Merger and Its Fallout 13.09.2025 17:34

A deep dive into one of the most dramatic corporate sagas in modern media. We break down AT&T's failed $85B Time Warner bet, the $65.3B WarnerMedia–Discovery reverse Morris trust deal, and the turbulent journey that followed — from massive debt pressures and creative clashes to canceled blockbusters, restructuring charges, and the shocking decision to split the company again by 2026. You'll walk a...

Amazon + Whole Foods: The $13.7B Deal That Redefined Retail 06.09.2025 21:07

In 2017, Amazon stunned Wall Street and Main Street with its $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market. More than just a grocery buy, this move became a blueprint for modern M&A—showcasing how technology, logistics, and brand can converge to reshape an entire industry. In this episode, we unpack the strategic rationale behind the deal, from Amazon's push for omnichannel dominance to Whole...

Disney Buys 21st Century Fox for $71.3B 05.09.2025 23:13

Why Disney Bought Fox—and How It Changed Streaming Disney didn't buy 21st Century Fox just to get bigger—it did it to win the streaming race. We walk through what Disney bought (from Avatar to The Simpsons, plus control of Hulu and Hotstar), why Fox kept live news and sports, and how a bidding fight with Comcast drove the price to $71.3B. We also explain the regulator fixes, the debt Disney took o...

Deal Breakdown: Microsoft buys LinkedIn for $26.2B 03.09.2025 14:44

In this episode, we break down Microsoft's $26.2B acquisition of LinkedIn: why it made strategic sense, how the deal was structured and financed, and the EU remedies that cleared the path. Then we track early product integrations and performance signals. Finish with a simple playbook on buying the graph, integrating lightly, and pre-committing to openness. Connect: Dieunor Michel (LinkedIn): https...