Deal of the Week

You probably wouldn’t have guessed the first European technology startup to pass the $10 billion valuation mark would be the maker of “Boom Beach,” whose name makes Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman laugh. China’s largest internet company, Tencent, is leading a group that will buy 84 percent of Supercell for $8.6 billion. Most of that is being sold by SoftBank, the majority holder of the Finnish gaming company. Bloomberg managing editor Peter Elstrom happens to be visiting from Japan, just in time to give us his expert analysis on why SoftBank is selling now and why the company’s CEO heir apparent -- Nikesh Arora -- surprisingly quit.\u0010\u0010(Corrects title in second sentence)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft spent $16.9 billion in the past four years to buy Skype, Yammer and Nokia's phone and tablet business. None lived up to the hype. Is there any reason to think Microsoft's $26 billion purchase of LinkedIn will work out any better? Gadfly columnist Shira Ovide and Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman hash out some possible answers. Plus, Bloomberg broke the news that daily fantasy sports behemoths FanDuel and DraftKings have started merger talks. Bloomberg sports reporter Eben Novy-Williams explains why antitrust concerns may hinder a deal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roy Behren and Mike Shannon, professional merger arbitrage investors, make money by placing on bets on how likely it is that a deal will get completed. They do this by investing in targeted companies and sometimes shorting potential acquirers. What's unusual about them is they also give retail investors a way to profit from their decisions through the Merger Fund, a publicly traded mutual fund they run through Westchester Capital Management. Plus, Behren and Shannon give Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman opinions how to reap gains from Yahoo's sale process, the merger of Dupont and Dow Chemical's and Bayer's pursuit of Monsanto.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While they aren't household names, but utility deals are likely to drive 2016 M&A, reporter Matt Monks tells Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman. They discuss why an $8.6 billion takeover of Midwestern energy producer Westar by Great Plains Energy proves industry consolidation isn't slowing down, and Monks offers a few suggestions for future deal targets. Plus, Gadfly columnist Max Nisen says he can't see a situation where anyone buys Valeant, even though the stock spiked on last week's Wall Street Journal report that Japanese pharma firm Takeda and private equity giant TPG approached the floundering company about a possible takeover.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back, megadeals! Bayer wants to buy Monsanto for at least $62 billion. It would be the year's largest, and the biggest in German history. But Monsanto has rejected Bayer's offer, although it's still open to talks. Will a deal happen? Bloomberg Executive Editor Jeff McCracken says... Well, you'll just have to listen. Plus, Men's Warehouse founder George Zimmer guarantees you'll like the way you look, loves marijuana and wants to buy back his company after a disastrous deal with Joseph A. Bank. Bloomberg Gadfly columnist Tara Lachapelle and Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman examine how he might be able to retake the business he founded.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warren Buffett's decision to back a bid for Yahoo might seem to violate some of the billionaire investor's cardinal rules: Don't invest in tech, and don't touch companies whose businesses you don't understand. As Bloomberg reporter Noah Buhayar tells Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman, though, Buffett no doubt extracted a low-risk deal to help finance the bid for Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert. Plus, Bloomberg Gadfly columnist Brooke Sutherland offers her thoughts on Gannett's improved hostile offer for Tribune, following up on last week's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newspapers might have a future. Surprised? There's more! Two of the last remaining big publishers -- Tribune, owner of the LA Times and Chicago Tribune, and Gannett, publisher of USA Today, are embroiled in merger talks. Here's the intrigue: In February, Tribune sold 5.2 million new shares to its chairman for just $8.50 each. And now, Tribune says Gannett's hostile offer of $12.25 per share ``understates the company's true value.'' Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman and media reporter Gerry Smith discuss Tribune's tactics -- and whether the two sides can ultimately strike a deal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Halliburton's quest to buy Baker Hughes is over. Joining this week's episode is Bloomberg M&A Matthew Monks, who was first to report that the deal had died. Monks talks with host Alex Sherman and fellow reporter Ed Hammond to discuss why the companies couldn't find a path forward, even when faced with a $3.5 billion breakup fee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was there something in the water? Brazilian-born Osmar Abib graduated from the same Houston high school with three other men -- Ralph Eades, Hugh "Skip" McGee, and Greg Pipkin -- who, like him, became prominent investment bankers specializing in energy. They even played on the same basketball team! Three decades later, the Credit Suisse banker joins the show to talk about opportunities in the industry, and how he made the transition from oilfield engineer. Abib also contrasts Credit Suisse to Perella Weinberg and Tudor Pickering, two firms that have begun merger talks to strengthen their position in the M&A advisory world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Verizon is the frontrunner to acquire Yahoo. But what will the largest U.S. wireless company do with it? Bloomberg telecom reporter Scott Moritz and Deal of the Week host Alex Sherman decide it's all about mobile video... they think. Plus, Bob Teitelman discusses his new book "Bloodsport," which details the characters that developed modern M&A, including Marty Lipton, Felix Rohatyn, Michael Milkin and Joseph Flom. It's a must-read for avid listeners of the podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.