The Megabuyte CEOBarometer Podcast

February 2021: Despite a tentative start to the year for capital markets, later-stage VC and mid-market PE power ahead evidencing our bullish outlook for 2021.

January 2021 - Company Financials & Trading Update: Stock market highs, a record month for corporate activity, resilience becomes confidence and the arrival of SPACs.

January 2021 - Markets & Deals Update: Stock market highs, a record month for corporate activity, resilience becomes confidence and the arrival of SPACs.

December 2020: Upbeat markets and valuations, the return of mid-market private equity and why NOW is the time to evaluate strategy.

November 2020: The country may be heading into ‘Lockdown 2.0’ but corporate activity and financial performance in the UK tech and digital sector continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. In particular, mid-market private equity is back with a bang, and M&A activity continues to return to pre-COVID levels, especially in Enterprise Software. I discuss the key deals and valuation trends. Also this month, the wave of IPOs seems definitely now to have reached European shores and I look at where the next IPOs might come from - and where they won't. On trading, the picture remains broadly positive but there is something of an SME-shaped cloud on the horizon.

October 2020: As deal activity continued to recover in September; despite lockdown uncertainty, I take a look at ‘Chapter 2’ investment trends in venture and growth capital as well as recovering M&A and mid-market PE activity. Although share prices were more muted in September after a very strong run, the US IPO market continued its resurgence with some eye-watering valuations to match. Are these sustainable and will the IPO gold rush be exported to Europe? The signs are there. On trading, as well as more indications of resilience, I comment on horrible results from WANdisco. 

September 2020: As the summer progresses into its quietest month, there is still plenty to talk about in the tech sector. Mega-deals have returned with gusto, underlining resurgent confidence from management teams and investors alike. I examine the evidence for returning strength in the UK IPO market and how data strategies of every flavour are at the core of much of this activity right now. Meanwhile, I take my usual look at current trading and uncover some businesses that are now expecting higher profitability than before COVID. 

August 2020: As part of my usual review of key trends in trading, corporate activity and valuations, this month, I draw out the key themes in data showing a resurgence of M&A activity, assess the possibility of green shoots in the UK IPO market, examine news flow in fintech which suggests that it is entering a new, more uncertain phase and update on the recurrent theme of resilience. Last, but definitely not least, I summarise the latest installment of the reboot of our Generational Shift theory. 

July 2020: This month, as IPOs abound in the US, I examine the outlook for valuations in the face of seemingly ever-rising stock markets, with some surprising conclusions. I also give the usual deal stats which show continuing strength in growth capital and some green shoots in mid-market PE and M&A activity. On trading, the news remains good, but our four resilience measures will be even more crucial as the economic recession starts to bite.

June 2020: As our Barometer podcast goes monthly, markets continue to defy gravity, CEOs get more cheerful as they see ‘flat is the new growth’ and there’s mixed news on transaction volumes and valuations. I give my take on the key recent trading, transaction and funding news and to look forward to what that might mean for the outlook - the earthquake may be over, but are we missing the tsunami now rushing towards the beach?