Dealcast: The M&A Podcast

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 r...

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 38bn Why the changing approach to utilities investments may spark state-level policy pushback in the US Why more rene...

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 San...

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...

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...

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 as...

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 Tru...

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 so...

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 batteries Which minerals, like lithium and copper, are c...

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 country Which sectors are likely to be most impacted by tariffs like logistics and specific agribusiness subsectors, including beef and coffee production Which Brazi...

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...

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 June How some private equity firms' early involvement in deep tech could help curb risks from u...

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 segments How recent events will likely lead to delays in Chinese companies' planned US investment projects, like Envision Group’s pause on construction a...

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 government What this means for Mexico’s renewable energy sector, especially as traditional energy like oil production continues to steadily de...

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 1bn Why UK tech companies are being targeted by US strategics and sponsors Why Craneware is resisting the trend by rejecting an...

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 Singapore Which deals follow the trend of localizing manufacturing, like Prada’s recent purchase of Versace Which brands may consider moving production to US manufacturing si...

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 inte...

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 mor...

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 s...

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 1Q25 Which types of deals are shielded from fallout Deal outlook after VIX and EURO STOXX recovery All 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 experie...

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, wi...

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 Ves...

Google’s acquisition of Wiz is its largest-ever deal and comes with impressive reverse break fee Regulatory scrutiny of the deal will act as bellwether of the US regulatory environment Google’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 o...