Dealcast: The M&A Podcast

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.