Behind the Deals:
LSEG Deals Intelligence Insights
Episode 3
$2.8 Trillion in Deals, 48 Mega-Transactions - The Deal making Supercycle has arrived.
From AI-driven acquisitions and record-breaking debt issuance to a resurgence in mega-deals and IPOs, the global deals market continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. The question now is not whether deal activity will continue, but how long the momentum can last.
In the latest episode of Behind the Deals, LSEG’s Elizabeth Kuhr is joined by Lucille Jones, Senior Manager, Deals Intelligence at LSEG, and Elisa Martinuzzi, Finance and Markets EMEA Editor at Reuters, to unpack the forces driving today's dealmaking landscape.
Watch the latest episode to find out:
- What deals have caused global M&A to reach an all-time high of $2.8 trillion in H1 2026
- How AI is fuelling a wave of mega-deals, corporate borrowing and strategic investment
- The rise of blockbuster transactions, with 48 deals exceeding $10 billion announced this year.
- Why the UK remains a prime target for overseas acquirers
- What investors, deal makers and corporate leaders should watch as we move into the second half of 2026.
Episode 2
A geopolitical flashpoint is rattling global energy markets. At the same time, M&A is surging to record highs. In the latest episode of Behind the Deals, we unpack the powerful forces shaping deal making right now and what they signal for 2026 deal making.
Featuring expert insights from Reuter's Anousha Sakoui and LSEG's Matt Toole - this episode connects the dots between global disruption caused by the AI boom and Middle Eastern tensions to deal making momentum.
Tune into our latest episode to find out:
- Whether rising tensions in the Middle East are slowing or accelerating deal flow
- The AI deal boom: who’s buying, who’s investing, and how valuations are holding up
- The return of the megadeal and what history tells us about where we’re headed
- Regional trends across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific
- The latest on Elon Musk’s expanding business empire and IPO ambitions
A fresh look at the Warner Brothers deal and what it means for media consolidation.
Episode 1
The deal landscape is shifting and understanding the signals from 2025 is key to anticipating where global M&A is headed next.
Behind the Deals goes beyond the headlines and data, to explore the forces that truly moved the market last year and unpacks the strategic themes set to shape deal making in 2026.
Watch our latest episode to find out:
- The defining M&A trends of 2025
- How macro forces, regulation, and capital constraints reshaped deal execution
- Where deal momentum is building In 2026
Whether you’re exploring strategic acquisitions, assessing cross border activity, or planning your next big investment, our team delivers insights that power decisions.
To find out more how LSEG Workspace can empower your workflows, explore our latest Deals Intelligence reports here.
Speakers
Elizabeth Kuhr
Product Director, News Content Strategy
Lucille Jones
Senior Manager, Deals Intelligence
