Solomon Connects
Solomon Partners' investment bankers and key partners share their latest thinking and insights across a broad range of sectors, with a focus on M&A, financing, and dealmaking. The podcast offers perspectives from the firm's professionals on current trends and opportunities in the financial industry.
Episodes
The New Economics of Digital Health & Consumer Healthtech
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners Healthcare Managing Director Eric Bormel joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss the continued evolution of digital health and consumer healthtech sectors and the forces creating opportunities for investors and strategic acquirers. They explore rising consumer expectations, the importance of pairing impact with ROI, AI as an accelerant
How Out of Home Wins the Attention Economy
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Out of Home Advertising Association of America CEO Anna Bager joins Solomon Partners Head of Media & Entertainment Mark Boidman and Director Christian Bermel to discuss the powerful forces converging around out of home (OOH) media, from increased measurement to AI enhancement and new creative capabilities. They explore how out of home is becoming increasing
AI, Scale, and Sponsors: The Mid-Year M&A Reset
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners Financial Institutions Partner Tannon Krumpelman and Technology Managing Director James Butcher join M&A Director Chris Moynihan for a mid-year M&A cross-sector outlook. They discuss the divergence between headline-making deal value and mid-market volumes, the evolving impact of AI on transaction dynamics, and the challenges in sponsor-
Consumer Retail M&A: Building Durable Competitive Advantage
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners Co-Head of Consumer Retail Group Jeff Derman joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss how continuous disruption has reshaped the consumer retail sector and what separates today’s winners from the rest. They explore the importance of scale, operational agility, and disciplined strategy as companies navigate AI, inflation, tariffs, and sh
M&A Today: AI’s New Role on the Deal Team
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss how AI is being deployed across investment banking today. They explore where AI is already accelerating workflow efficiency, why relationships remain central to advisory work, and how firms are thoughtfully integrating AI without compromi
Capital Gets Creative in a Higher-for-Longer World
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of Capital Advisory Vinod Chandiramani joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss how more complex capital markets are reshaping financing and recapitalization decisions across the middle market. They explore why proactive capital planning, creative capital solutions, and hybrid capital are increasingly critical as traditional amend
M&A Today: Disciplined Dealmaking in an Uncertain World
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to break down the key forces shaping M&A activity following a strong but complex first quarter. They discuss the return of large-cap strategic buyers, persistent valuation gaps, and rising activism, while unpacking how boards and management team
Navigating Exits, Capital, and Continued Volatility in 2026
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of Financial Sponsors Sash Rentala joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss the evolving M&A landscape amid elevated rates, macro uncertainty, and supply‑demand imbalance for assets. They explore why A‑quality assets continue to trade, what’s holding back broader exit activity, and how the secondaries market, AI, and private c
From Gridlock to Green Shoots: 2026 M&A Healthcare Market
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of Healthcare Jon Hammack joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to unpack the current state of the healthcare M&A market and the key themes shaping a more constructive deal environment this year. Jon shares insights on sponsor and strategic dynamics, record pipelines, improving market clarity, and the sub-sectors driving deal activity
M&A Today: Activism Accelerates – What Boards Need Now
In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss how shareholder activism is becoming more prevalent, faster-moving, and increasingly focused on strategic change rather than simply financial performance and governance. They explore how activists are positioning themselves as constructiv
M&A Today: Deal Activity Expected to Accelerate in 2026
Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs sits down with M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss their M&A outlook for 2026. The conversation highlights key themes to watch for this year, including sponsor exit momentum, a renewed IPO market, increased in‑sector strategic consolidation, and a more accommodating regulatory environment.
M&A Momentum: Cross Sector Outlook for 2026
This cross‑industry roundtable from Solomon Partners examines how the M&A landscape evolved in 2025 and the factors expected to shape deal activity in 2026 across healthcare, technology, and financial services. Industry coverage bankers Jon Pritti, James Butcher, and Alex DeOteris join M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss key macro and sector themes, including evolving sponsor dynamics,
Unlocking Value & Navigating Conflicts in Tax Receivable Agreements
Solomon Partners’ Managing Director Matthew Cornish from our Financial Institutions Group joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to unpack the evolving market for illiquid financial assets, with a particular focus on tax receivable agreements (TRAs). They discuss the rise in interest for TRAs, navigating conflicts these agreements create for boards and shareholders, and best practices for managing
M&A Today: Discipline in the Board Room — Lessons Learned When M&A Deals Unwind
Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss strategic discipline in M&A and lessons learned from the recent unwinding of several marquee M&A transactions. They unpack underlying challenges — from debt burdens to market shifts — and share how boards can stress-test mergers to ensure sustainable, long-term value
Dealmaking in the Age of AI: The Power of Data
Solomon Partners’ Craig Muir, Head of Software, Data & Analytics, joins Jeff Jacobs, Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking to discuss how AI, data, and tech-enabled services are reshaping dealmaking in tech. They unpack M&A trends and valuation strategies as the year wraps up and we look ahead to 2026.
FIG in Focus: M&A Trends Shaping Financial Institutions
Arik Rashkes, Head of Solomon’s Financial Institutions Group (FIG), joins Chris Moynihan to discuss the evolving M&A landscape across insurance, wealth management, asset management and specialty finance sub-sectors. From increasing deal activity across distribution businesses to strategic consolidation and unbundling trends and the role of private equity, the episode explores key trends shapin
M&A Today: Why 2025 Is Defying Expectations
Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to unpack the momentum in the M&A market, despite the uncertainty earlier in the year. They explore the forces driving strategic consolidation and large-cap private equity transactions—offering insights into what’s fueling activity and what to expect heading into 2026.
Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in Today's Healthcare M&A Market
Solomon’s Head of Healthcare Jon Hammack and Partner Jon Pritti explore the dynamics shaping today’s healthcare M&A market. Healthcare remains a resilient sector despite macroeconomic headwinds and continued interest rate and LP liquidity pressures. They share insights on why momentum is expected to build through late 2025 and into 2026.
M&A Today: The New Playbook for Dealmaking
Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss how the M&A process has evolved from a one-off event into a repeatable growth engine for acquirers. They break down the consistent drivers of deal success—clear strategy, holistic due diligence, and strong post-deal integration.
M&A Today: Delaware, Texas, Nevada – The New Incorporation Map
Solomon's Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs and M&A Director Chris Moynihan discuss the shifting landscape of corporate incorporation and why some companies are moving from Delaware to states like Texas and Nevada. They explore the legal developments and market trends that are prompting boards to reassess incorporation strategies as part of broader M&A and gove
What’s Driving the Healthcare M&A Market Today?
Solomon’s Healthcare Managing Director Brad Hildebrand speaks with M&A Director Chris Moynihan about the evolving healthcare M&A landscape, highlighting why the sector remains attractive due to its size, growth, and resilience. They discuss the impact of market conditions, including regulatory uncertainty and interest rates, as well as the dynamics of both private equity and strategic buye
M&A Today: Our Take on Take-Privates
Our latest episode covers the increased activity in take private transactions. Solomon's Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs and M&A Director Chris Moynihan discuss the market trends driving the uptick in take-private M&A and the complexities behind these deals.
Capital Currents: Navigating Market Uncertainty
Solomon’s Vinod Chandiramani, Head of Capital Advisory, speaks with M&A Director, Chris Moynihan, about the shifting dynamics in the private markets and liquidity strategies to proactively navigate current economic conditions.
M&A Today: Will CEOs Continue to Watch and Wait?
Solomon's Head of M&A Jeff Jacobs and M&A Director Chris Moynihan discuss the slow start to dealmaking in Q1, including the impact of tariffs, market volatility, and interest rates across the market, as well as the outlook for the rest of 2025.
Beyond Borders: The Evolving M&A Landscape
Cross-border M&A volumes have been under pressure, impacted by both political uncertainty and market volatility. So, what’s driving the slowdown in foreign acquisitions of US assets? And how are US companies navigating outbound M&A, given increasing scrutiny, tariffs and protectionist policies? Solomon's Head of M&A Jeff Jacobs and Director Chris Moynihan discuss recent trends and
Shaping the Future of MedSpas
Alyssa Rapp, CEO of Empower Aesthetics, discusses her journey and the company's mission to boost confidence through aesthetics. She talks about her firm’s M&A strategy for MedSpas, their support services offered to partners, and shares insights on values-based leadership from her book, Leadership and Life Hacks, in a conversation with Solomon Managing Director, Brad Hildebrand.
MedSpas Unveiled: Transparency in Treatments & Customer-Centric Care
Explore the evolution and increasing acceptance of aesthetic treatments along with the importance of establishing trust through customer care in our latest Healthcare podcast on MedSpas with Alchemy 43 Founder & CEO Nicci Levy and Solomon Managing Director Brad Hildebrand.
Winning Strategies for MedSpa Platforms
In the first episode of our Healthcare podcast series focusing on MedSpas, John Wheeler, CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners, joins Solomon Managing Director Brad Hildebrand to discuss the growth of the aesthetics industry along with top strategies for success in the sector.
The Future of the Index Industry with Wilshire Indexes CEO Mark Makepeace
Mark Makepeace, CEO of Wilshire Indexes, and Jeff Jacobs, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Solomon Partners discuss how new technologies, data sources and collaborations are driving changes in the global index industry. The conversation explores the growth of passive funds, the dynamics impacting ESG investing and the enormous potential for evolving technologies like AI to fundamentally resha
EP 15: Iora Health's CEO on Payment Reform and Healthcare’s Omnichannel Opportunity
In our latest episode, Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle, co-founder & CEO of Iora Health, and Ryan Stewart discuss the transformation of the healthcare delivery model. As a result of payment reform and a world where face-to-face medical encounters have not been possible, Healthcare is rapidly shifting towards an omnichannel communications environment, where patients are engaging where they want to be
EP 14: Behavioral Health's Defining Moment
In this episode, fmr. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy and Garen Staglin join PJ SOLOMON's Ryan Stewart to discuss the need for comprehensive mental healthcare and other advancements.
EP 13: Healthcare's Greatest "Test & Learn": A Talk with Humana CEO Bruce Broussard
EP 12: Our Developing Optimism for Retail: A Look at the Holiday Season and Beyond
In this episode, Cathy Leonhardt, Co-Head of Global Consumer Retail, and Senior Advisor Steve Sadove discuss their outlook for retailers for the 2020 holiday shopping season and beyond.Despite the rocky start to the year and the dismal outlook brought on by COVID-19, many retailers are experiencing a better than expected holiday shopping season and the outlook for 2021 is supported by the strength
EP 11: Trends & Outlook for Specialty Pharmacy: A Chat with CVS Health
With the world waiting in anticipation for a vaccine to COVID-19, the role of specialty pharmacies has never been more essential. As the largest provider of specialty pharmacy in the United States, how does CVS Health think about providing the highest level of quality and service at the lowest cost possible to ensure optimum healthcare outcomes? To find out, Head of Pharmacy Investment Banking Sye
EP 10: Our Playbook for Navigating Retail Sector Financing
PJ SOLOMON's Head of Financing Advisory Joe Stein speaks with David Shiffman and Jeff Derman of the firm's Consumer Retail Group about the keys to financing retailers amidst challenges facing the sector including a global pandemic.
EP 09: In Conversation: Clean Energy’s Pole Vault Moment
PJ SOLOMON Chairman Peter J. Solomon and Managing Director James McGinnis discuss the factors that are leading the transition to clean energy in the US rapidly and forcefully ahead.
EP 08: Beauty and Personal Care: Reshaping Strategies in the Changing Marketplace
PJ SOLOMON Managing Director Irina Adler and Conor Begley, co-founder of Tribe Dynamics, discuss how beauty and personal care brands are reshaping their strategies in response to a rapidly evolving marketplace.
EP 07: Global Ambition: The Future of US-China Cross-Border M&A
PJ SOLOMON's Head of M&A Execution and Cross-Border, Jeff Jacobs, speaks with Peter Adams of Vermilion Partners, the Chinese affiliate firm in the Natixis M&A network. They discuss the outlook for US-China cross-border M&A.
EP 06: The Resiliency of Experiential Entertainment and its Post-COVID Return
PJ SOLOMON's Head of Media & Entertainment, Rich Brail, speaks with CEO Marc Cooper on the state of experiential entertainment and the outlook for its reemergence in the post-COVID world.
EP 05: Retail’s Survival of the Fittest in Real Time
David Shiffman, Co-Head of Consumer Retail, speaks with PJ SOLOMON Senior Advisors and retailing luminaries Stephen Sadove and Matthew Rubel about the industry’s paradigm shift and what companies will need to navigate the new world order.
EP 04: COVID-19: The Necessity of Supply Chain and Logistics Investment
Cathy Leonhardt, Co-Head of Consumer Retail, and Jason Russell, Head of Industrial Technology & Software, discuss the growing need and opportunity for investment in supply chain and logistics management in light of the new market environment created by COVID-19.
EP 03: Executing on Digital Strategy in Uncertain Times
Cathy Leonhardt, Co-Head of Consumer Retail at PJ SOLOMON, and Zack Werner, CEO of The Maze Group, discuss digital marketing pitfalls and opportunities facing consumer and retail companies given the uncertain market environment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
EP 02: Perspectives on the Oil & Gas Sector During These Challenging Times
PJ SOLOMON's George Ward and Tero Jänne discuss what’s next for the Energy sector as it grapples with historically low oil prices and plunging demand amidst a global pandemic.
EP 01: Navigating the Consumer Retail Sector Amidst COVID-19
PJ SOLOMON’s Co-Head of Consumer Retail, Cathy Leonhardt, and Derek Pitts, Head of Debt Advisory & Restructuring, discuss how they are advising Consumer and Retail clients amidst the spread of COVID-19. Derek advises clients to “be the co-authors of their own story” and Cathy questions whether consumer behavior will be forever changed.
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