Behind the Deals:
LSEG Deals Intelligence Insights
Episode 8
$3.86 Trillion in Global M&A, $1.2 Trillion Cross-Border Activity - Deal Makers Continue to Defy Uncertainty.
Despite geopolitical tensions, shifting monetary policy and ongoing market volatility, global deal making remains remarkably resilient. Cross-border M&A activity has surged, US acquirers are increasingly targeting European assets, and investment in AI continues to reshape capital flows and strategic decision-making. The question now is whether dealmakers can maintain this momentum as markets navigate an increasingly complex global landscape.
In the latest episode of Behind the Deals, LSEG's Head of News Elizabeth Kuhr is joined by Mahmoud Khliefat, Global Head of Banking at LSEG, and Anousha Sakoui, European Editor of M&A at Reuters, to explore the trends shaping dealmaking activity around the world.
Watch the latest episode to find out:
- What is driving global M&A activity to reach $3.86 trillion year-to-date, the second-highest total on record
- Why cross-border deal making has climbed to $1.2 trillion, with US buyers increasingly targeting European and UK assets
- How AI investment is influencing M&A, IPO activity and demand for infrastructure across global markets
- Why Europe is entering a new phase of regional consolidation while Asia continues to invest heavily in US AI innovation
- What deal makers, investors and corporate leaders should watch as monetary policy, geopolitical developments and capital markets continue to evolve through the remainder of the year
Episode 7
$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 6
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 5
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
