Markets Mindset: Q2 2026 Leveraged Finance: Software Sector Impact

M&A Corner: Managing Risks in the M&A Process

As dealmakers navigate a competitive and fast-moving M&A environment, questions around risk allocation, execution speed and emerging technology are becoming increasingly important. In this episode of M&A Corner, Mizuho | Greenhill’s Co-Head of U.S. M&A, Doug Jackson, sits down with Bill Kucera, Partner and Head of Global M&A at Mayer Brown, to discuss M&A trends from a market and legal perspective. Our guests explore:  * The dynamics behind the megadeals that are currently dominating the M&A market volumes * How financial sponsors are navigating a “softer” private equity transaction environment * The growing adoption of representations and warranties insurance among strategic buyers * The implications of regulatory changes requiring shorter tender offer periods for certain public deals *  The practical ways AI is already changing the M&A process Join our experts as they discuss how deal teams can manage emerging risks while staying focused on one of the fundamentals of transaction success: backing the right management team.

Markets Mindset: Q2 2026 Debt Capital Markets: Weathering the Geopolitical Climate

The effects of the geopolitical climate over the past few months have rippled out across Debt Capital Markets.  From the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global oil prices, to questions around the upcoming midterm elections, navigating the current environment has been a key concern for both issuers and investors. In our latest episode of Markets Mindset, Mizuho Americas’ Head of Investment Grade Capital Markets and Syndicate, Victor Forte, leads a discussion around the surprising resilience and potential causes for concern that have surfaced last quarter. Victor speaks with Moshe Tomkiewicz, Head of Investment Grade Debt Capital Markets, and Colby Griffith, Head of U.S. Debt Syndicate, to hear their perspectives on the current environment and the best courses of action for issuers going forward. Our experts touch on: * The state of investment grade net issuance  * The midterm election’s impact on M&A financing  *  Where spreads are heading into summer * Why European credit markets have underperformed * How rate volatility might affect the credit curve *  Market projections going into Q2 Hear from our experts as they discuss what investors and issuers need to know as the market weathers global uncertainty.

Markets Mindset: Q2 2026 Leveraged Finance: Software Sector Impact

Within leveraged finance, there has been a shift in activity in term loan B, high yield and CLO markets as the industry contends with the resetting of software valuations as a result of the AI disruption. In the middle of this uncertain environment, what should leveraged finance investors and issuers know moving into the next quarter? In our latest episode of Markets Mindset, Mizuho Americas’ Head of Leveraged Finance, Jeb Slowik, is joined by Managing Director of Leveraged Finance, Jim Boland, and Head of U.S. CLO trading, Stefan Kullberg, for a discussion on how the software sector has impacted leveraged finance markets this past quarter. Our guests give their insights into their respective markets to provide clarity around: * How software is influencing CLO market trends * High yield market strength * The sustainability of refinancing private credit  * The health and stability of the AAA bid in the CLO market * The trajectory of the new issue and secondary markets Hear from our experts as they analyze the state of leveraged finance and offer their views on which KPIs investors and issuers should watch in the months ahead.

Markets Mindset: Q1 2026 Equity Capital Markets: The Return of IPOs

Equity capital markets are off to a strong start in 2026, with IPO activity accelerating after several years of subdued issuance. Early momentum, improving performance and a growing pipeline across sectors are setting the stage for a potentially robust year ahead. But as financial sponsors return to the market and a new wave of mega-cap and SMID-cap IPOs line up, is there sufficient demand across the public markets to absorb deals of all sizes? In this episode of Markets Mindset, Mizuho’s Head of Equity Capital Markets, Josh Weismer, is joined by Managing Director in Equity Capital Markets, Richard Soto to discuss the state of the IPO market, the strength of the global technology, media and telecom (TMT) pipeline and what’s driving renewed confidence among issuers and investors alike. They share perspectives on sponsor-backed IPOs, the mechanics of executing very large public offerings and the growing breadth of sector participation, from TMT and industrials to biotech. The conversation also explores how institutional investors are positioning to put capital to work as market conditions evolve. Hear our experts outline what to expect across the IPO market in 2026, and what this next phase of equity capital markets activity could mean for companies considering a path to the public markets.

Markets Mindset: Q1 2026 Leveraged Finance: A Deep Dive into Data Center Financing

Leveraged finance markets experienced a meaningful pick up of activity in 2025 driven largely by continued high volumes of data center financings, including several of Mizuho’s recently lead deals.    But as we enter 2026 with even more data center projects on the horizon, is the market equipped to meet demand for financing?     In our latest episode of Markets Mindset, Mizuho’s Managing Director in Leveraged Finance, Jim Boland, is joined by Nicholas Brice, Head of Leveraged Finance Trading, and Rahul Shah, Head of Project Finance, for a discussion on how this year is shaping up in their markets and what lessons can be learned from 2025.   Our guests offer their insights on the reception from high yield investors on the data center growth, discuss the opportunities and challenges around data center construction and share their thoughts on whether banks can cope with the volume of demand.   Hear from our experts as they outline what to expect within leveraged finance markets throughout the coming year as new data center projects get the green light.