Squawk Pod
M&A Deals Halted, 2025 Deals Still On, & Gauging the Tariff Pinch 12/11/24
Dec 11, 2024
Mitchell Green, founding partner at Lead Edge Capital, shares insights on halted M&A deals, including significant grocery and steel mergers. He discusses why 2025 will still see public market deal-making despite a slow IPO year, as many top companies have already secured funding. The conversation also touches on the impact of President-elect Trump's tariff strategies on the supply chain, raising concerns about consumer prices and international trade challenges. Gene Seroka adds depth by exploring automation in port operations and its effects on communities.
27:59
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Quick takeaways
- The blocking of significant mergers, such as Kroger and Albertsons, highlights intensifying regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. grocery sector.
- Future IPO activity is expected to be limited as many companies have already secured capital, complicating the venture capital landscape for 2025.
Deep dives
Kroger-Albertsons Merger Blocked
A Federal judge has blocked Kroger's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons, siding with the FTC's concern that the merger would reduce competition in the grocery sector. The FTC argued that the merger violates antitrust laws and that merely divesting hundreds of stores would not sufficiently mitigate the competitive harm. Kroger and Albertsons are currently reviewing their next steps in light of the ruling. Critics have pointed out that grocery competition actually lies more with giants like Walmart and Amazon, which poses its own challenges amidst rising food costs.
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