Behind the Money

Venture capital fundraising hit a record-high last year. There were more deals, and more money poured into startups last year than at any other time in history. Now, the FT’s Richard Waters says the fundraising bonanza is over. On this week’s episode, we explore what that means for the future of startups. Clips from Looney Tunes: ⓒ Warner Bros. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Venture capital’s silent crash: when the tech boom met realityKlarna’s valuation crashes to under $7bn in tough funding roundVenture capital’s delayed rendezvous with reality- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Richard Waters (@RichardWaters) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the 2008 financial crisis, it’s become more and more difficult for Americans to chart a path toward financial security. Things like buying a house and paying off student loans have become more challenging for young people to do. And that’s given rise to a new generation of investors the FT’s Madison Darbyshire calls “generation moonshot.”  Clips courtesy of NBC News, CNBC, ABC News, CBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Generation moonshot: why young investors are not ready to give up on riskHow retail investors can navigate the rough terrain of US equitiesA year on, we haven’t absorbed the lessons of the GameStop saga - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Madison Darbyshire (@MADarbyshire) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07) Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sri Lanka is facing dire fuel and food shortages amid ongoing economic and political crises. In this week’s episode, the FT’s Antoni Slodkowski shares what he’s seen after a week of reporting in Sri Lanka. And then, emerging markets correspondent Jonathan Wheatley explains how the crises in Sri Lanka may impact the rest of the world.  Clips courtesy of Voice of America- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:No food, no fuel and no jobs: the economic catastrophe engulfing Sri LankaWhat Sri Lanka reveals about the risks in emerging marketsChina reckons with its first overseas debt crisisDebt sell-off intensifies strains for more than a dozen emerging markets- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Jonathan Wheatley (@Jonthn_Wheatley), Antoni Slodkowski (@slodek) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greedflation. Price gouging. Pandemic profiteering. What happens when turning a profit is considered a bad thing? In this week’s episode, the FT’s US business editor Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson explains how a new message around corporate profits is resonating with the American public and causing headaches for executives. Clip courtesy of Bloomberg- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:US companies face rising battle to fend off vilification over ‘excess’ profitsJoe Biden blasts Chevron chief as ‘sensitive’ after fuel-price criticismThe war on ‘woke capitalism’ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson (@Edgecliffe) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07) Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few years ago a Peruvian farmer filed a lawsuit against a German utility company thousands of miles away. The reason? A glacier is melting near his hometown. If it melts enough, it could cause a flood that may catastrophically damage his city. He says that over years the company's pollution has contributed to climate change, and because of this, it should help pay for protections against the potential flood. In this week’s episode, we’ll tell the story of a David vs. Goliath battle. How one man is taking on one of the world’s biggest polluters in a landmark case that could one day force companies to pay for damage they’ve done to the environment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Who pays for climate change? The Peruvian suing a German utilityThe Climate Game: Can you reach net zero by 2050?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Camilla Hodgson (@CamillaHodgson)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spacs, or special purpose acquisition companies, were all the rage at the start of the pandemic. These shell companies raise cash by listing on the stock market, and then seek a merger with a private company. This created a novel way for companies to list on the stock market without having to go through the traditional initial public offering process.Now, Spacs are floundering. The FT’s Ortenca Aliaj talks with guest host Jess Smith about how the Spac investment boom collided with rising interest rates and regulatory threats, and ultimately went bust.   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: Spac boom dies as wary investors retreat- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Ortenca Aliaj (@OrtencaAl)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late last year Unilever reached a $5 billion deal to sell part of its tea business, including brands like Lipton and PG Tips, to private equity giant CVC Capital. But the tea sector is a complicated one. With roots in colonialism, tea plantations around the world have faced many issues, including accusations of human rights abuses. In this week’s episode, we’re hearing from one worker whose life was forever changed by violence on her plantation, and exploring how this deal represents a new challenge for PE as investors are increasing their scrutiny into the private equity industry’s ethics.   Clips courtesy of Unilever, Al Jazeera, AP- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:How Unilever’s tea business became a test of private equity’s conscienceBidders for Unilever’s tea business pulled out on plantation concernsCVC pushes back IPO plans amid market turmoil- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign up here to get the Moral Money premium newsletter sent straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Twitter, follow Judith Evans (@JudithREvans), Kaye Wiggins (@kayewiggins) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07) Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Financial Times reporter Patricia Nilsson started digging into the porn industry, she made a shocking discovery: nobody knew who controlled the biggest porn company in the world. Now, Nilsson and her editor, Alex Barker, reveal who is behind it and much more. This eight-part investigative podcast, published weekly, reveals the secret history of the adult business and the billionaires and financial institutions who shape it.Subscribe and listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve announced its largest interest rate increase since 1994. And it's the equivalent of the US central bank taking a baseball bat to the economy, according to the FT’s US financial commentator Robert Armstrong.  In this week’s episode, Armstrong is helping us to make sense of the Fed’s announcement. He’ll explain what the recent hike means for the economy and for investors, and tell us whether or not we should be freaking out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Fed smash! How fast is the US economy slowing? Bear market to the rescueTime for strong medicine: How central banks got tough on inflation- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign up here to get the Unhedged newsletter sent straight to your inbox every weekday. On Twitter, follow Robert Armstrong (@rbrtrmstrng)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest healthcare companies, is facing thousands of lawsuits from people alleging they got cancer from using one of their oldest products: talc-based baby powder. To manage the growing liability, J&J recently deployed a controversial new bankruptcy manoeuvre known as the Texas Two-Step. In this week’s episode, we explore whether J&J’s use of this manoeuvre is setting a new precedent for corporations to evade accountability in America.Update: A new version of this episode was uploaded on June 21, 2022 to update the number and outcome of trials 3M has faced related to one of its products.   Clip courtesy of NBC News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Johnson & Johnson’s ‘Texas-two-step’ sparks outcry over US bankruptcy regimeArchitects of ‘Texas two-step’ lambast J&J for its use of the manoeuvre‘Texas two-step’ outcry risks ending fee bonanza for law firm Jones DayJ&J’s Texas two-step waltzes over its liabilities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Twitter, follow Jamie Smyth (@JamieSmythF) and Michela Tindera (@mtindera07)Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.