From a $35bn “Valentine’s Day love letter” to OpenAI’s mysterious $6.5bn hardware play, Anthony and Stephen break down the biggest deal stories shaking up markets this week.

They also dive into the private equity pullback as firms like Blackstone and KKR slump, why Goldman Sachs is going big on the Middle East, and how Victoria’s Secret is fighting off unwanted attention with lingerie and a poison pill.

Essential listening for anyone curious about the mechanics of mega M&A, private equity’s shifting playbook, and the strange overlap between fashion, finance, and billion-dollar drama.

(00:00) Intro & Key Themes

(01:43) The $35 Billion Love Letter

(09:36) OpenAI's Bold Acquisition

(16:42) The State of Private Equity

(23:23) Goldman Sachs in the Middle East

(27:14) Victoria's Secrets Poison Pill

(32:55) Google's $700 Million Gift

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The Deal Room: Inside the Biggest M&A Deals You Need to Know (Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, Victoria's Secrets, OpenAI)