Dealcast: The M&A Podcast

“This level of uncertainty has allowed boardrooms to rise above what is happening in the market,” Global Chair of Investment Banking at JPMorgan Anu Aiyengar says. Rather than being paralysed by geopolitical turmoil, executives have acknowledged they are playing on a constantly changing pitch and doubled down on long-term thinking to simplify their corporate footprints while building growth and resilience, Aiyengar says. That’s writ large in a record-breaking first half for global M&A, with volume of USD 3.16tn (up 44% year-on-year) – and 78% of that haul involving strategic acquirors. In this episode of Dealcast, Aiyengar joins John West, Mergermarket’s Global Commentary Editor, to unpack the deal dynamics behind 1H26’s astonishing run and pitching forward to what the rest of 2026 has in store. Predicting the year will topple 2021 as the most active of all time, Aiyengar provides insight on AI ROI and stock market concentration, the valuation premium afforded to larger companies, pri