Deal of the Week

"The Everything Store" no longer comes close to describing the totality of Amazon. The company's web services drive enterprise cloud computing. Its video and music services compete with the nation's top media companies. Now Amazon is spending $13.7 billion to own Whole Foods. What won't this company do? And why do shareholders seemingly cheer every move? Bloomberg Gadfly columnists Shira Ovide and Shelly Banjo try to get their hands around all that is Amazon and explain what motivated founder and CEO Jeff Bezos's biggest acquisition bet ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sirius XM has explored an acquisition of Pandora for at least two years. Last year, Sirius floated a $15-per-share offer for Pandora. More recently, the CEO of Liberty Media, Sirius's majority shareholder, said it would buy Pandora for $10 per share. CNBC reported Sirius's final acquisition offer valued Pandora at $8. After all the negotiation, Pandora reached a deal to sell about 20 percent of the business to Sirius for $480 million, valuing the company around $2.4 billion, or just under $10 per share. Plus, Sirius's investment comes with a 6 percent dividend on its preferred shares. Bloomberg entertainment reporter Lucas Shaw tells host Alex Sherman that evidence indicates Sirius got the better of Pandora in its deal negotiations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Blue Apron a technology company or a grocery delivery service? How investors answer that question will go a long way toward setting a valuation for the venture capital-backed startup that's gearing up to go public. Blue Apron filed its S-1 last week, a proverbial box of goodies (not food) for potential shareholders. Bloomberg reporter Alex Barinka explains Blue Apron's growth story, its considerable challenges, and its plan to become a multibillion dollar public company to host Alex Sherman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most mergers and acquisitions don't involve nationalistic pride and potential government intervention. Toshiba's potential sale of its memory-chip business is different. Bloomberg's Ian King explains why Toshiba's struggles embody Japan's technological downfall, and how that could affect which company or private equity firm ultimately buys its crown jewel. He also explains why SoftBank is interested in owning a stake in Nvidia, following up on his scoops from last week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Kirchfeld, Bloomberg's global M&A executive editor, joins Ed Hammond, filling in for host Alex Sherman, to discuss the recent surge in deals between U.S. and European companies, and the different approaches governments take to acquirers coming from overseas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was once a scent-filled mecca of teenage coolness. Now, Abercrombie & Fitch stores are, well, that's part of the problem. It's not exactly clear what Abercrombie & Fitch's future is, according to Bloomberg apparel reporter Lindsey Rupp, co-host of the Material World podcast. She joins host Alex Sherman to explain why Abercrombie's stores always smelled of that strange perfume and why apparel mergers and acquisitions have been difficult to consummate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just weeks ago, Straight Path Communications was an obscure telecommunications company with a $400 million market capitalization. Today, it has a equity valuation of about $3 billion, and it's only climbing higher. What happened? A bidding war between AT&T and Verizon, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg Gadfly columnist Tara Lachapelle and Bloomberg wireless reporter Scott Moritz explain why Verizon is forcing AT&T to pay top dollar for a little-known owner of wireless licenses and airwaves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time and Meredith tried and tried to merge, but the marriage wasn't to be. Greg Mason, CEO of digital media company Purch, tells host Alex Sherman the problem is magazine companies just aren't very good businesses. That makes it difficult to find a price where banks are willing to provide financing and both sides want to strike a deal. Legacy publishing companies with big brand names should turn to technology developed by digital media companies...perhaps like his own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Round and round it goes, and where will it stop? Nobody knows! Spin the wheel of telecom M&A. Will it match T-Mobile and Sprint? T-Mobile and Dish? Verizon and Dish? Verizon and Charter? Comcast and Charter? Or something else entirely? More than a year has passed since these companies were allowed to discuss merging, a byproduct of the government's wireless spectrum auction. That all ends April 27, when the anti-collusion quiet period concludes. Will the telecommunications world see major changes? Bloomberg reporters Scott Moritz and Gerry Smith discuss with host Alex Sherman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week featured a clash of the retail titans in M&A land. Amazon has reportedly looked at buying both Whole Foods and BJ's Wholesale Club. Meanwhile, Walmart is nearing a deal to buy men's fashion retailer Bonobos for about $300 million. Does Amazon want to be Walmart, and vice versa? Bloomberg consumer team leader Nick Turner and Gadfly columnist Shelly Banjo explain both companies might be thinking to host Alex Sherman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.