Behind the Money

Despite its relatively low profile, Fidelity Investments is a sprawling beast when it comes to financial services. Last year, the firm’s revenues surpassed the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, by more than 50 per cent. The FT’s Emma Dunkley explains how Fidelity has come to dominate the sector, the secrets behind its success, and what hurdles it may have to jump through in the coming years as new challenges for asset managers arise.  The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Can Fidelity keep its grip on America’s investments?The quiet queen of American financeHow Fidelity’s Ned Johnson defied the curse of the boss’s sonTrump opens US retirement plans to crypto and private equity investments - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Emma Dunkley on X (@EmDunks). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2025

In the UK, whistleblowers are encouraged to report wrongdoing, but often at cost to their livelihoods and careers. One solution would be to pay corporate whistleblowers for coming forward. However, many in government have held the idea for years that doing so is not very “British.” But now, longtime opposition to the idea seems to be shifting. Suzi Ring, the FT’s legal correspondent in London, explains how and why. Plus, we speak with Nick Ephgrave, the director of the UK’s Serious Fraud Office, who is taking inspiration from his decades spent with London’s Metropolitan Police Service to try to change the system.  Clips from ITV If you missed part one of this series, listen to it here.  The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Should corporate whistleblowers get paid?Whistleblowers could earn millions as HMRC targets tax fraudUK SFO director pushes to pay whistleblowers and use covert tacticsCorporate whistleblowing in the UK needs a shake-up  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Behind the Money host Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2025

In this special episode of Behind the Money, the FT’s senior business writer Andrew Hill interviews author Stephen Witt about his book The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip. Witt and his book won the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year for 2025.       The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:In future ‘books could respond’ says winning author Stephen Witt FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2025 — the shortlist FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year 2025 — the longlist  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Andrew Hill on X (@andrewtghill) or on Bluesky (@andrewtghill.ft.com) and Stephen Witt (@stephenwitt) on X. Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

For years, corporate whistleblowers in the UK have found themselves in an unenviable predicament. They’re encouraged to report wrongdoing, but at the same time they often feel like they’ve risked everything: their careers and livelihoods in exchange for little. In this special two-part series, we explore why critics think this system is failing whistleblowers and what the UK can do to change things. In part one: We hear from two whistleblowers who share why they blew the whistle and what went wrong after. Plus, the FT’s financial regulation editor Martin Arnold and Mary Inman, the attorney who represented well-known whistleblowers such as Frances Haugen of Meta and Tyler Shultz of Theranos, discuss the systemic issues whistleblowers have faced in the UK.    Part two airs next Monday, December 15. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Should corporate whistleblowers get paid?Whistleblowers could earn millions as HMRC targets tax fraudCorporate whistleblowing in the UK needs a shake-upAsset management: inside the scandal that rocked GAM  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Behind the Money host Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

For years, corporate whistleblowers in the UK have found themselves in an unenviable predicament. They’re encouraged to report wrongdoing, but at the same time they often feel like they’ve risked their livelihoods in exchange for very little in the end. The fallout from whistleblowing can cost them their careers or worse. Starting next Monday, Behind the Money is launching a two-part special series on what, if anything, the UK can do to change this. Listen every Monday on Behind the Money.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

This week we’re sharing an episode from Business History, a podcast from Pushkin Industries. Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith explore what the businesses of the past can teach us about commerce today.  In this episode, Goldstein and Smith look at how Southwest Airlines developed a winning formula that forced its competitors to change how they did business — but then the Southwest model fell apart. Find Business History on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

When international private equity groups first entered Japan at the turn of the 21st century, newspapers criticised them as vulture funds and politicians steered clear of public contact. Today, it’s a different story. Dozens of buyout groups have set up in the country and the establishment is courting them. The FT’s Tokyo correspondent David Keohane and Tokyo bureau chief Leo Lewis explain why there’s been a shift, and how private equity’s presence may rejuvenate Japanese corporates. Clips from Toho.  The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Is Japan private equity’s next frontier?Buyout firms play the long game beyond TokyoInvestors sense this time is different for JapanKKR-owned auto parts supplier Marelli files for US bankruptcy protection  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow David Keohane (@DavidKeo) and Leo Lewis (@Urbandirt) on X. Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on substack, go to ftav.substack.com Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Investors are spending billions of dollars on novel ways to extend human life through inventive treatments, therapies, and even manipulating our genes. And increasingly, it seems as though anti-ageing efforts have moved from the super rich to a mass market consumer industry. In this series, we’re covering the past, present and future of the longevity movement. We’ll be looking at where the fixation on longevity is coming from, and trying to understand the practical and ethical issues at the heart of this cutting-edge field of research.  From Silicon Valley fantasies, to Singaporean health spas, to Colombian genetic clinics and beyond, the FT’s Hannah Kuchler and Michael Peel ask whether breakthroughs in science and technology can really help us live longer, and even stop us aging altogether. Free to read:  US ‘wellness’ industry scents opportunity to go mainstream The quest to make young blood into a drug This season of Tech Tonic was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Fact checking by Simon Greaves, Lucy Baldwin and Tara Cromie. Original music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

OpenAI is entering a new era. It's restructured to add a for-profit arm to its business and has signed more than a trillion dollars’ worth of deals to secure chips and build out data centres. But those huge financial commitments also raise massive questions: How will a heavily loss-making company fund $1.4tn worth of deals with some of the biggest publicly listed companies in the world? And what systemic risks could that come with? The FT's US west coast financial editor Tabby Kinder and venture capital correspondent George Hammond answer the questions everyone's asking. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. Clips from Bg2 Pod, CNBC, Yahoo Finance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:How OpenAI put itself at the centre of a $1tn network of dealsWho owns OpenAI? Blockbuster deals complicate investor payoutsOpenAI shunned advisers on $1.5tn of dealsHow high are OpenAI’s compute costs? Possibly a lot higher than we thought - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Attend the FT Global Banking Summit, December 2-4 in London: Enter SAVE20 for a 20% discount, register here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Tabby Kinder (@Tabby_Kinder) and George Hammond (@GeorgeNHammond) on X or on Bluesky (@tabbykinder.bsky.social), (@georgehammond.bsky.social). Behind the Money host Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

Pharma juggernauts Pfizer and Novo Nordisk are struggling in the obesity drug race.The two companies are searching for their next moneymaker, and that search recently spun out into a ferocious, multibillion-dollar battle for control of biotech start-up Metsera. The FT’s US deals and activism correspondent Oliver Barnes walks through the tussle that’s involved lawsuits, public barbs and political drama. Clips from CNBC, Pfizer, Yahoo Finance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading and listening:Weight-loss wars: $10bn hostile battle pits Pfizer against Novo NordiskPfizer shows hardball mettle needed to win in 2025 M&AThere is only one winner in the Pfizer Novo Nordisk showdownOzempic’s unconventional origins - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Attend the FT Global Banking Summit, 2-4 December in London: Enter SAVE20 for a 20% discount, register here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Oliver Barnes on X (@mroliverbarnes), or on Bluesky (@mroliverbarnes.bsky.social) Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

Publicly-listed Oklo sits at the intersection of two hot areas for Wall Street: artificial intelligence and energy companies. This year alone, Oklo’s share price has jumped more than 400 per cent. But the business hasn’t generated any revenue. It hasn’t built a nuclear reactor, and it hasn’t secured any binding contracts with customers. The FT’s US energy editor Jamie Smyth explains the enthusiasm for Oklo, its links to the Trump administration and whether it can live up to the hype. Clips from New York Stock Exchange, The White House, a16z - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Inside Oklo: the $20bn nuclear start-up without any revenueUS and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn expertsDonald Trump’s assault on US nuclear watchdog raises safety concerns - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Attend the FT Global Banking Summit, 2-4 December in London: Enter SAVE20 for a 20% discount, register here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Jamie Smyth on X (@JamieSmythF), or on Bluesky (@jamiesmythft.bsky.social). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

Some of the world’s biggest financial institutions are reeling after the collapse of a little-known car parts supplier: First Brands Group. The company filed for bankruptcy last month, and since then, FT reporters have shone a spotlight on billions of dollars of hidden debt and a secretive founder whose borrowing habits left creditors exposed. The FT’s corporate finance editor Robert Smith and banking editor Ortenca Aliaj walk through their investigation and explain how this event has raised questions about potential cracks in private credit.   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:The secretive First Brands founder, his $12bn debt and the future of private creditFirst Brands Group: dude, where’s my cash?First Brands bankruptcy: the losers — and winners - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Robert Smith on X (@BondHack), or on Bluesky (@bondhack.ft.com). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

The world’s largest listed hedge fund manager, Man Group, is at a crossroads. After years of high flying thanks to its innovative quant trading strategies, the company’s hedge fund unit has been faltering. Recently, the performance of Man Group’s core business has been lacklustre, and some institutional investors have pulled their money. The FT’s hedge fund correspondent Costas Mourselas analyses which strategies Man Group may pursue to rebound.  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Can the world’s largest listed hedge fund rebound?Man Group’s hedge fund bluesRobyn Grew: the ‘force of nature’ named Man Group chief executive - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Costas Mourselas on X (@CostasMourselas). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

Introducing Toxic Legacy, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. Host Laura Hughes uncovers a lead poisoning epidemic across the UK. You might be living with lead and not know it: the toxin is often invisible to the human eye, but wreaks havoc on our bodies once we’re exposed. The first episode of Untold: Toxic Legacy launches October 22.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts. For information on how to live safely with lead, please visit the LEAPP Alliance website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

From KitKat candy bars to Perrier mineral water, Nestlé owns thousands of brands. But recently the world’s largest food and beverage company has severely underperformed its rivals in the wider consumer goods sector. The business is also emerging from a scandal involving its most recent chief executive. The FT’s consumer industries reporter Madeleine Speed explains how Nestlé’s challenges fit into an industry under pressure from shareholders, and what plans the group’s new leadership are considering.  Clips from TBS/YouTube and Nestlé - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:The meltdown at NestléNestlé’s CEO ousting makes case for corporate ‘veep’Denials and defiance: Nestlé chief’s exit over relationship prompts investor unrest - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Madeleine Speed on X (@SpeedMaddie). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

In recent weeks, satellite business EchoStar has clinched multibillion-dollar deals with SpaceX and AT&T. It may sound like boom times for founder Charlie Ergen, but these deals illustrate something different: the abandoning of an ambitious, decades-long quest to build his own mobile phone network. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap and US trading and crypto correspondent Jill R Shah explain how Ergen’s fortunes changed, and the role Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump played in that.   Clips from CNBC, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, Echostar/Vimeo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:How a deal with Elon Musk helped a telecoms tycoon save his company from bankruptcyTrump forces billionaire to foldCharlie Ergen: Media mogul at a Sprint - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Behind the Money has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Money & Finance category! It's a Listener Choice award, which means we need your help. Vote for us to win here. We appreciate your support! Follow Sujeet Indap on X (@sindap), or on Bluesky (@sindap.bsky.social). Follow Jill Shah on X (@jillrshah). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

US President Donald Trump has pledged to “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars”, China could send its first crewed mission to Mars within a decade, and Elon Musk wants people to actually settle on Mars, transforming the human race into an interplanetary species.  In a new series of Tech Tonic, the FT’s Peggy Hollinger asks if we’re really about to land, and even live, on the red planet.  Free to read: Musk’s mission to Mars Three days with America’s rocket chasers Tech Tonic is produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. The senior producer is Edwin Lane. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2025

India’s tech hub Bangalore has experienced huge growth of companies and employees in the past two decades. But the city’s infrastructure is not keeping up with such rapid growth. With the tech sector contributing more than $300bn to the nation’s economy, what happens to the country’s growth if Bangalore can’t solve its issues? The FT’s Mumbai bureau chief Chris Kay and Mumbai correspondent Krishn Kaushik travelled to Bangalore to try to find out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:The unsustainable boom in India’s Silicon ValleyMultinationals turn to India’s back offices for AI engineersIndian IT shares fall over fears from Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Behind the Money has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Money & Finance category! It's a Listener Choice award, which means we need your help. Vote for us to win here. We appreciate your support! Follow Chris Kay on X (@christopherkay) or on Bluesky (@christopherkay.ft.com), and Krishn Kaushik on X (@Krishn_) Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

Behind the Money has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Money & Finance category! It's a Listener Choice award, which means we need your help. Vote for us to win here. We appreciate your support! And while you're at it, vote for some other FT podcasts that have also been nominated. The FT News Briefing podcast was nominated for best daily podcast category. Vote here. And our Tech Tonic podcast was nominated for best technology podcast. Vote here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2025

The recent collapse of Tricolor Holdings, a subprime auto lender in Texas, has left a trail of losses and questions from Wall Street to low-income immigrant communities throughout the American south-west. The FT’s US banking correspondent Akila Quinio, and Amelia Pollard, US investment correspondent, explain what they’ve found. Clip from Fifth Third - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Tricolor collapse sparks concern about health of US subprime auto sectorDebt linked to collapsed subprime auto lender Tricolor tumblesJPMorgan and Fifth Third face losses tied to collapsed subprime car lender - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Amelia Pollard on X (@ameliajpollard) and Bluesky (@pollard.bsky.social) and Akila Quinio on X (@akilazoe). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

Ecommerce start-up Jumia was supposed to become the “Amazon of Africa”. Its prospects seemed promising after raising close to $800mn prior to its IPO in 2019 — more than any African start-up. But in the years since, things haven’t gone the way investors probably hoped. The FT’s west and central Africa correspondent Aanu Adeoye explains Jumia’s plans to turn the business around, and what its challenges say about applying western business models in Africa.  Clip from New York Stock Exchange  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Is there a future for the ‘Amazon of Africa’?‘Amazon of Africa’ Jumia fights to rebuild investor trust  Complaints that Jumia is not African ring hollow - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Aanu Adeoye on X (@aanuadeoye). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2025

The natural diamond industry is facing an existential threat: lab-grown diamonds. They’re chemically and physically identical to natural stones, and they're just a fraction of the price. Eleanor Olcott, the FT’s China technology correspondent, travelled to the epicentre of lab-grown diamond production in the central Chinese province of Henan to see how they’re made. While the FT’s natural resources editor, Leslie Hook, explores what the sale of leading natural diamond producer, De Beers, could mean for the future of the sector.   Clip from Arnold Worldwide  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:How the diamond industry lost its sparkle The sparkle is fading in Africa’s diamond heartlandTaylor Swift hands diamonds a moment to shine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Leslie Hook on X (@lesliehook) and Eleanor Olcott on X (@EleanorOlcott). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2025

Earlier this summer, energy supermajor Chevron secured access to one of the most valuable oilfields in the world. It was the culmination of a months-long battle that pitted America’s second-largest oil company against the largest, ExxonMobil. The FT’s US energy editor, Jamie Smyth, looks at what Chevron aims to do next, and how it plans to take on its larger rival.    Clips from CNBC, Bloomberg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   Sign up for the FT Weekend Festival at ft.com/festival and use the promo code “FTPodcasts” for 10 per cent off. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Chevron prepares for US oil supermajor battle with Exxon Chevron seals $53bn Hess takeover after Exxon fails to torpedo deal For further listening … Our Behind the Money episode on Guyana from 2024: Will Exxon make or break Guyana? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Jamie Smyth on X (@JamieSmythF) and Bluesky (‪@jamiesmythft.bsky.social‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

AI music generators - platforms that use artificial intelligence to create new, original music from scratch - can make songs that are almost indistinguishable from human creations. For some musicians, they’re the next frontier in music-making technology. But for others, they represent a grave threat, flooding the world with low-grade AI music, stealing the jobs of working musicians, and even spelling the end of the creative process as we know it. Is this just technophobia, or is music facing AI annihilation? In a new two-part series of Tech Tonic, the FT’s pop critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney explores the emerging world of AI music, and the impact it could have on the industry. Tech Tonic is presented by Ludovic Hunter-Tilney. The producers are Lulu Smyth and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Edwin Lane is the senior producer, Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original Music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the FT’s acting co-heads of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 August 2025

This week we're sharing an episode from, Unhedged, another podcast from the FT network. The annual meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is supposed to be an intellectual retreat. Instead, it was overshadowed by personal and political attacks on US Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook. Today on the show, Katie Martin talks to US economics editor Claire Jones about her reporting from Jackson Hole and what might happen if the central bank falls under the president’s control. Also, we attempt to go long and short but are interrupted by a fire alarm.  For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer. You can email Robert Armstrong and Katie Martin at [email protected]. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2025

Palantir shares have soared this year, making the data analytics company one of the most valuable listed US tech groups. The FT’s Tabby Kinder explains how a paradigm shift in Silicon Valley helped propel Palantir to new heights and why many think it will be among the biggest winners of more US federal spending on national security, immigration and space exploration – even as others have started questioning its valuation. Clips from Bloomberg, CNBC, FOX Business, HBO, More Perfect Union, Newsweek, TechCrunch, Palantir Vision, The 92nd Street Y, New York  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Palantir becomes a ‘Trump trade’ as investors bet on higher defence spendingHow Donald Trump’s spending bill will boost Silicon Valley’s defence companiesPalantir lifts outlook as AI boom sends quarterly revenue to $1bnPalantir’s ‘revolving door’ with government spurs huge growth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Tabby Kinder on X (@Tabby_Kinder) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed) or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

As the popularity of cigarettes has slid in the past couple decades, Big Tobacco has been searching for a new hit product. Now, they think they’ve found it: nicotine pouches. FT reporters Clara Murray and Mari Novik explain how nicotine pouches became popular, and whether they’ll become the sector’s newest addiction or if they will be snuffed out.  Clips from ABC News, ABC4 Utah, CBS Mornings, Theo Von Podcast, Time, TikTok - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:The new nicotine hit that could save Big TobaccoBig Tobacco stock rally reveals uncomfortable truthBig Tobacco will take heat on its smokeless transformation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Clara Murray on X (@clara__murray) and Bluesky (‪@claradoodle.bsky.social‬). Follow Mari Novik on X (@marinoevik) and Bluesky(@marinovik.bsky.social‬). Saffeya Ahmed is on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or you can follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2025

Two summers ago, hedge fund manager Bobby Jain set out with a huge goal: build a hedge fund that can rival the likes of industry giants Citadel and Millennium. But in the year since his firm started trading, Jain has found the going tough. FT hedge fund correspondents Amelia Pollard and Costas Mourselas explain what difficulties he has encountered, and whether building a true rival in this space is possible.  Clip from Bloomberg TV - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading & listening:Big launch, small gains: Bobby Jain struggles to match hedge fund giantsThe next Millennium’s slow start Citadel and Millennium outshone by smaller hedge fund rivals after trade war turmoil🎧 Hedge fund pioneers face signs of a reckoning - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Amelia Pollard (@ameliajpollard), Costas Mourselas (@CostasMourselas) and Saffeya Ahmed (@saffeya-ahmed) on X, or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

This week we’re sharing an episode from Fixable, a podcast from TED. In it, hear about the resurrection of Barnes & Noble.  Chief revival architect and CEO James Daunt joins hosts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei to discuss the unconventional leadership strategies that helped him navigate through the pandemic and keep bookstores alive in the age of Amazon and e-books. Anne and Frances explore James’s non-hierarchical approach to team building, dive into the challenges he faced on his mission to revitalise the company, and discover the principle at the heart of his strategy. Listen to Fixable wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2025

The competition for junior talent between private equity and Wall Street banks reached a new peak this summer. That’s thanks to a controversial recruiting practice that is causing both industries to find talent earlier and earlier. Now, powerful figures such as JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon are publicly decrying the strategy. The FT’s Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap and banking editor Ortenca Aliaj explain the origins of this friction and what it says about the future of Wall Street and private equity’s top firms.   Clip from the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading: Wall Street vs private equity: can anyone stop the grad recruitment creep?Is investment banking still a jewel in Wall Street’s crown?Private equity abandons early recruiting after Jamie Dimon fightback - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Ortenca Aliaj on X (@OrtencaAl) and Bluesky (‪‬‪@ortenca.bsky.social‬), and Sujeet Indap on X (@sindap) and Bluesky (‪@sindap.bsky.social‬‪‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2025

Can Tim Cook save Apple from the trade war? Has Mark Zuckerberg really been a fan of Donald Trump all along? And is the bromance between Elon Musk and the president really over?  In a new season of Tech Tonic, Murad Ahmed explores the relationships between Trump and some of the titans of the tech world. What is really driving those relationships, and what might they mean for the future of technology in the US and beyond? Free to read: ‘He is power’: billionaires line up for Donald Trump’s inauguration Donald Trump lashes out at Apple over plan to ship US iPhones from India How Jeff Bezos made peace with Donald Trump What has Elon Musk’s Doge actually achieved? How Joel Kaplan became Mark Zuckerberg’s most trusted political fixer How Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley funded the sudden rise of JD Vance This season of Tech Tonic is presented by Murad Ahmed and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Flo Phillips. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music, Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the FT’s acting co-heads of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 July 2025

Top consulting firms have repeatedly found themselves facing a reputational crisis. The most recent example was in early July, when a Financial Times investigation revealed that Boston Consulting Group had modelled a plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza after entering into a multimillion-dollar contract to help launch an aid scheme for the enclave. In this week’s episode, the FT’s US accounting editor, Stephen Foley, explains his reporting and examines what these events say about how effective the consulting industry’s ability to avoid reputational scandals is.    Clips from the UN   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:BCG modelled plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from GazaInside Gaza’s ‘death traps’The little-known group poised to take over Gaza’s aidBCG gets caught up in a scandal in Gaza  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Stephen Foley on X (@stephenfoley) and Bluesky (‪@stephenfoleyft.bsky.social‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

It’s been exactly 90 days since US President Donald Trump paused most of his ‘reciprocal’ tariffs. With just a 10 per cent blanket tariff on all imports and a higher tariff on China, economists predicted the American economy would feel the heat pretty quickly. But the sky hasn’t fallen yet – the world’s largest economy is holding strong. The FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones explains why that is and when markets may start to feel the effects of Trump’s tariffs.  Clips from CBS News, CNBC, TODAY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Donald Trump renews threat to hit trading partners with steep tariffsTariffs on household goods bring home costs of Trump’s trade warsUS tariff receipts surge in Donald Trump’s trade warUS narrows trade focus to secure deals before Donald Trump’s tariff deadline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Claire Jones on X (@senoj_erialc) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

When Iran attacked a US airbase in Qatar – a response to strikes on its nuclear facilities – many feared a global war may be imminent. But there was one market that didn’t break a sweat: oil. It’s typically a commodity that surges at the first sight of conflict in the Middle East. This time though, oil traders bet that the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US would be short-lived. The FT’s energy editor Malcolm Moore explains how traders called the outcome correctly.  Clips from ABC News, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News, Fox 9 Minneapolis St Paul, ITV News, KTLA 5, NBC News - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:How oil traders called the Middle East conflictFuel and fury: energy becomes a Middle East battlefieldWhy oil traders are watching the Strait of HormuzWhy is the oil price not surging? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Malcolm Moore (@MalcolmMoore) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya_ahmed), or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

The Royal Bank of Scotland was once the biggest bank in the world. Then, hubris got the best of it. During the financial crisis the UK government spent £46bn to bail out the bank. Seventeen years and a rebrand to NatWest Group later, the government just sold its last shares in it and officially ended the country’s “bailout era”. The FT’s Akila Quinio analyses what this means for the economy and for NatWest.   Clips from ABC News, BBC, NBC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:The RBS story: how the world’s biggest bank was nationalised and then rebornNatWest’s freedom dividend has already been cashedNatWest must not forget its chequered past - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Akila Quinio on X (@akilazoe). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

LVMH’s wine and spirits division, Moët Hennessy, has long been a source of success – and cash – for the luxury goods behemoth. But more recently, that’s changed. The FT’s Paris correspondent Adrienne Klasa, found that certain strategic decisions made under the company’s former CEO have contributed to a change in its fortunes. She examines the missteps and whether the division can make a comeback.  Clips from Olympics - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Moët Hennessy’s crisis: dubious deals, soaring prices and hubris Alcohol groups face a sobering cultural shiftMoët Hennessy to cut 10% of workforce as luxury slowdown bites - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Adrienne Klasa on X (@AdrienneKlasa). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2025

A decade ago, Indonesia produced only 6% of the world’s supply of refined nickel. Now, it has a de facto monopoly on the market. How did it happen? The FT’s Jakarta correspondent A. Anantha Lakshmi and FT’s commodities correspondent Camilla Hodgson examine what propelled this explosive growth and how China helped it happen.  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:‘The Opec of nickel’: Indonesia’s control of a critical metal‘Production first, safety later’: inside the world’s largest nickel siteWestern miner Eramet sees no profits in nickel processing without Chinese partners - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow A. Anantha Lakshmi and Camilla Hodgson on X (@AnanthalakshmiA) (@CamillaHodgson). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election.  Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Episodes will also be available on the FT’s YouTube channel. If you’d like to get in touch and ask Martin and Paul a question, please email [email protected]  Read Martin’s FT column here Subscribe to Paul’s substack here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election.  Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Episodes will also be available on the FT’s YouTube channel. If you’d like to get in touch and ask Martin and Paul a question, please email [email protected]  Read Martin’s FT column here Subscribe to Paul’s substack here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

Blackstone, Apollo and KKR. Although they have similar origins, these three top private capital groups are moving in different directions amid tumultuous markets. What do these approaches look like? And will they hold up in a potential downturn? The FT’s Antoine Gara, US private equity and deals editor, breaks down each approach and who’s most likely to perform best in the future. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:How Blackstone and its biggest rivals are drifting apart Should ordinary US retirement accounts be investing in private assets?Private equity industry shrinks for the first time in decades   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Antoine Gara on X (@AntoineGara), or on Bluesky (@antoinegara.bsky.social‬). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

This week, Swamp Notes goes to London for a live recording. Katie Martin, host of the Unhedged podcast, and Chris Giles, author of the FT’s Central Banks newsletter, discuss what Trump’s next few months might be like. Have markets truly recovered from the “liberation day” shock? What happens after the 90-day tariff pause is over? Our guests weigh in.  Subscribe to the new Swamp Notes feed here. Mentioned in this podcast:Read the latest Chris Giles on Central Banks column hereListen to the Unhedged podcast hereSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the acting co-head of audio. Special thanks to Mischa Frankl-Duval and Pierre Nicholson. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

Ireland has become a major base for US pharma companies, including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. That’s bolstered the economies of individual towns and played a role in the country’s massive budget surplus. Now, US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats are bringing a dose of uncertainty. The FT’s Ireland correspondent Jude Webber traveled to the town where the world’s supply of Botox is produced to see what impact potential pharmaceutical tariffs might have on the country.  Clips from WKYC, The Journal, Bloomberg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Trump tariffs bring furrowed brows to Ireland’s Botox townTrump’s tariffs threaten Ireland’s pharma fortuneIreland’s luxury problem: what to do with its €8.6bn surplus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Jude Webber on X (@jude_webber), or on Bluesky (@judewebber.bsky.social). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

Massive conglomerates used to define corporate best practice. Think about a company like General Electric, known as “the everything company”. But today, there’s a new popular model: de-conglomeration. The FT’s former US energy reporter Amanda Chu examines whether this is working for a power business that GE spun off last year – or if it’s just another Wall Street fad.  Clips from BBC, Bloomberg, DW  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Rustbelt gamble: GE Vernova rides AI power boom into uncertain futureIs the US power grid ready to meet the demands of data centres?Have America’s industrial giants forgotten what they are for?- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Amanda Chu on X (@amandalanchu). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

In March, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission, were fired from their jobs by the Trump administration. They say this was done illegally and are challenging their dismissals. Michela talks with Bedoya about what happened, and why he thinks businesses should be concerned.   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Trump’s move to fire us is a terrible warning for the US economyTwo Democrats on US antitrust panel say they were ‘illegally fired’ by Donald TrumpCould Donald Trump fire Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Alvaro Bedoya on X (@BedoyaFTC). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

Goldman Sachs may have picked its next chief executive years before any planned handover. It has raised eyebrows on Wall Street and would break from the usual process, where multiple candidates typically compete for the top job down to the last second. But it also completes an incredible comeback by current Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon. The FT’s US banking editor Joshua Franklin explains how Solomon reasserted his control over Goldman Sachs after a near rebellion and whether his potential successor is up to the task of running one of the world’s biggest banks. Clips from CNBC, Goldman Sachs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Has Goldman Sachs already chosen its next CEO?Goldman Sachs has lost its wayGoldman Sachs hands chief David Solomon $80mn retention award- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Joshua Franklin on X (@FTJFranklin). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Markets shook after US President Donald Trump announced his so-called reciprocal tariffs earlier this month. But there was one market in particular that got investors particularly worried: Treasuries. What’s usually a safe haven asset suddenly saw huge sell-offs. Trump managed to avoid further pain by pausing large chunks of his tariffs, but the sell-off prompts a discussion about significant structural flaws in the market. The FT’s US markets editor Kate Duguid explains which cracks in the US Treasuries market we can't ignore. Clip from The Wall Street Journal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Why did Donald Trump buckle?Is the world losing faith in the almighty US dollar?The debt-fuelled bet on US Treasuries that’s scaring regulators - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Kate Duguid on X (@kateduguid). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

Over the past three decades, China has built itself into a manufacturing powerhouse. The plan was simple: use exports as a way to avoid becoming too dependent on the west. But with US President Donald Trump imposing 145 per cent tariffs on the country, this strategy now hangs in the balance. The FT’s Beijing bureau chief Joe Leahy explains how Beijing built its export machine and whether its plan to sell the world cheap goods could go wrong. Clip from European Commission.  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Will China’s manufacturing juggernaut run out of road? How China’s record trade surplus helped spark Trump’s tariff war China says ‘sky won’t fall’ as exports surge ahead of Donald Trump’s tariffs  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Joe Leahy on X (@leahyjoseph). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs caused havoc in the markets, notably hitting Big Tech stocks such as Apple. The company lost more than $300bn in market value the next day, and its path forward is complicated. The FT’s San Francisco correspondent Michael Acton explains why the iPhone maker is vulnerable, and what options it has to minimise the damage. Clips from PBSNewshour, C-SPAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  For further reading:Apple loses more than $300bn in market value from Trump tariff hitApple and other US tech groups hit as Donald Trump targets suppliersFraying transatlantic ties will cost companies dearly And for further listening: Why Apple can’t leave China - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Michael Acton on X (@MActon93). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

A huge chunk of any typical bank’s profits comes from charging interest. But what happens when you can’t do that? This week, we’re traveling to Pakistan with the FT’s Humza Jilani, where the country has decided to make its entire banking sector align with Islamic law, which forbids charging interest. We’ll discuss how Islamic banks function and if this banking model can become Pakistan’s dominant system.  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Meezan Bank’s soaring shares herald rise of Islamic finance in PakistanClerics’ rule change threatens to throw Islamic debt market into turmoilWorld Bank approves 10-year $20bn Pakistan lending package- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Humza Jilani (@humza_jilani) and Saffeya Ahmed on X (@saffeya-ahmed), or follow Saffeya on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

Years ago, an ailing company like Walgreens Boots Alliance may have seemed like a prime acquisition target for deal-hungry private equity firms. But many have backed away from retail recently, leaving an opening for groups like Sycamore Partners who are willing to buck the trend. Sycamore announced this month that it would take the global pharmacy business private in a $23.7bn debt and equity deal. The FT’s Due Diligence reporter, Amelia Pollard, explains the well-worn playbook that Sycamore has used on past retail companies, and whether it will work this time with a chain that has its own share of unique problems.   Clips from Bloomberg, CNBC, CBS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading:Retail’s last barbarian: the private equity group about to play hardball with BootsWhat went wrong after Walgreens bought Boots? Walgreens bondholders could be winners from its debt-laden buyout- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Follow Amelia Pollard (@ameliajpollard) on X or (@pollard.bsky.social) on Bluesky. Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.  For more from Amelia and her team, sign up for the Due Diligence newsletter.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025