Podcasts

Viewsroom: WeWork unfurls the red flags

15 August 2019

The shared-office provider’s long-awaited IPO filing is packed with pointless life-affirming tropes. But it also details a host of conflicts of interest and other risks that should send investors running. Plus: India’s powerhouse Reliance is building a war chest for dominance.

The Exchange: Nile Rodgers and Merck Mercuriadis

13 August 2019

How much is a song worth? Two people who should know are the Chic founder and his manager, who have started a company to buy some of the world’s most famous back catalogues. They explain how music investing works and why many songwriters are miffed with Spotify.

Viewsroom: Vicious trade cycle traps U.S., China

8 August 2019

The White House’s decision to brand Beijing a currency manipulator is the latest move in a conflict riven by miscommunication, unrealistic expectations and no obvious way out. Plus: Why the LSE is paying $27 bln for Refinitiv, and which of the data firm’s owners comes out on top.

The Exchange: China’s unicorn squeeze

5 August 2019

Mainland startups are under pressure, as once-plentiful funds dry up. Jixun Foo, managing partner at GGV Capital and a backer of tech giants like Didi Chuxing, discusses with Alec Macfarlane why the drop-off in financing could ultimately benefit investors.

Viewsroom: Is Beyond Meat worth a bite?

1 August 2019

The meatless-burger maker is the best-performing IPO of the year by far. Now insiders are selling stock early as the company deals with rising competition, regulations and even a potential pea shortage. Plus: Using wine goggles to look at Western firms’ joint ventures in China.

The Exchange: Soccer gets smart

30 July 2019

It’s summer, which means top teams like Barcelona and Manchester United are brandishing their cheque books in the player-transfer market. But the way soccer clubs choose their stars and fund the purchases is changing. Researcher Sophie Tomlinson and financier Jason Traub explain.

Viewsroom: UK’s new PM looks for the exit

25 July 2019

Boris Johnson helped persuade Britons to vote to leave the EU. London’s former mayor now leads the country – and may find his pledge to quit the European bloc hard to keep. Meanwhile, U.S. watchdogs are circling Amazon, Alphabet, Apple and Facebook. Plus: Protests rock Hong Kong.

The Exchange: Andreessen Horowitz’s Scott Kupor

22 July 2019

The venture capitalist’s new book, “Secrets of Sand Hill Road,” is a fundraising guide for entrepreneurs. At his office off the famed Silicon Valley street he discusses with Breakingviews whether tech founders make good CEOs and details the biggest financial mistakes they make.

Viewsroom: AB InBev’s stubborn financial beer gut

18 July 2019

The $150 bln brewer of suds like Budweiser and Stella has scrapped its Asia unit’s Hong Kong float. CEO Carlos Brito now needs new ways to reduce the company’s debt. And as the second pulled IPO in weeks amid civil unrest, it puts the city’s financial hub under a spotlight.

The Exchange: Tiananmen 3.0

15 July 2019

Han Dongfang was expelled from China for organising worker protests that were bloodily suppressed in 1989. He founded China Labour Bulletin, which tracks factory protests, strikes and policy. He speaks with Pete Sweeney about the economic stress on workers and college graduates.