Solomon Connects

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 higher financing costs, increased uncertainty, and greater board scrutiny are shaping the M&A market as 2026 draws to a close. They explore why strategic demand for growth, technology, and scale remains intact and how creative deal structures are bridging valuation gaps as we finish out the year and begin building pipelines for 2027. 

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, and the growing investment potential across health and wellness technology, specialty virtual care, and connected devices.

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 increasingly valuable as digital channels grow more crowded, giving brands access to unskippable, in-real-life (IRL) attention, and the opportunity to create memorable experiences for audiences in the physical world.

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-driven activity amid financing constraints. The conversation also explores the themes shaping the second half, including scale-driven consolidation, defensive strategic moves, and a more opportunistic approach to capital deployment.

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 shifting consumer behavior.

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 compromising execution.

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‑and‑extend approaches face a higher bar — creating opportunities for capital advisory to unlock value amid constrained liquidity and shifting underwriting standards.

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 teams should approach dealmaking in Q2 and beyond as macro volatility persists.

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 credit are shaping the broader dealmaking environment in 2026.

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 from healthcare IT and pharma services to medtech.