Rupert Cocke
@rupertcocke.bsky.social
Barcelona-based journalist for Mergermarket. Views my own. You can see my free weekly blog on thinking critically about the news at https://sharpenyouraxe.substack.com/ If you want to start a debate with me, please ask first!
European deal multiples rebound from second-quarter tariffs-related dip – Dealspeak EMEA
European deal multiples rebound from second-quarter tariffs-related dip – Dealspeak EMEA
European M&A multiples returned to their historical averages in 3Q25, shaking off a second-quarter slump following the announcement of far-reachingREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:16 PM
European deal multiples rebound from second-quarter tariffs-related dip – Dealspeak EMEA
ECM update: US shutdown ends, UK budget on the horizon, AI bubble possible – podcast
ECM update: US shutdown ends, UK budget on the horizon, AI bubble possible – podcast
With the longest government shutdown in US history coming to an end, IPO listings could rise in response. The timingREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 AM
ECM update: US shutdown ends, UK budget on the horizon, AI bubble possible – podcast
A leak from the Spanish police suggests that Socialist Party organiser Santos Cerdán asked builders for illegal commissions worth 2% for public works contracts (Paywalled and in Spanish)
La trama del PSOE tenía una tarifa del 2% por obra amañada y quería pactar con el PNV para mantener su negocio
Los investigadores sostienen que la mano derecha de Pedro Sánchez en el PSOE hasta el pasado junio utilizó varias sociedades para ocultar sobornos de constructoras y desviarlos posteriormente a personas de su confianza
www.elconfidencial.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
A leak from the Spanish police suggests that Socialist Party organiser Santos Cerdán asked builders for illegal commissions worth 2% for public works contracts (Paywalled and in Spanish)
Anger is a dangerous emotion. Please check out this week's visual essay on my personal blog.
Anger: A Visual Essay
Lessons from Goya
sharpenyouraxe.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Anger is a dangerous emotion. Please check out this week's visual essay on my personal blog.
The investigative unit of Spain's Civil Guard has searched the offices of construction company Acciona as part of its probe into graft allegations against top Socialist politicians (In Spanish)
La UCO registra sedes de Acciona y otras empresas en Madrid, Bilbao y Sevilla por el 'caso Koldo'
Acciona aparece en múltiples ocasiones en el informe de la UCO que provocó la dimisión de Santos Cerdán
www.vozpopuli.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The investigative unit of Spain's Civil Guard has searched the offices of construction company Acciona as part of its probe into graft allegations against top Socialist politicians (In Spanish)
Epstein mentioned Trump multiple times in private emails, new release shows
Epstein mentioned Trump multiple times in private emails, new release shows | CNN Politics
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose death by suicide has spawned intense scrutiny of the high-profile people he knew, mentioned Donald Trump by name multiple times in private correspondenc...
edition.cnn.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Epstein mentioned Trump multiple times in private emails, new release shows
OakNorth eyes UK, US niche acquisitions; IPO not on near-term agenda
OakNorth eyes UK, US niche acquisitions; IPO not on near-term agenda
OakNorth Bank, the UK-based SME lender, is focused on acquisitions in the UK and US rather than an IPO inREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
OakNorth eyes UK, US niche acquisitions; IPO not on near-term agenda
How can we help our friends on the right gain some critical distance from a culture war that has been imported from the US? Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog for my thoughts after the jump!
An Imported Culture War
Unthinking loyalty to the right-wing side of an arbitrary culture war can lead people badly astray
sharpenyouraxe.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:39 AM
How can we help our friends on the right gain some critical distance from a culture war that has been imported from the US? Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog for my thoughts after the jump!
French political gridlock hurts country’s start-up aspirations – podcast
French political gridlock hurts country's start-up aspirations – podcast
Political gridlock in France threatens its start-up ambitions, with budget disputes and potential tax hikes undermining venture capital
ionanalytics.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
French political gridlock hurts country’s start-up aspirations – podcast
US sponsors home in on UK take-private targets with stateside revenues
US sponsors home in on UK take-private targets with stateside revenues
UK companies with strong US revenue are increasingly becoming targets for US private equity to take private thanks to relatively low valuation
ionanalytics.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
US sponsors home in on UK take-private targets with stateside revenues
Bank mergers in Spain’s concentrated market will require patience and diplomacy to execute – Dealspeak EMEA
Bank mergers in Spain’s concentrated market will require patience and diplomacy to execute – Dealspeak EMEA
Future transactions in Spain’s already-consolidated banking market will take time and diplomacy to execute, according to sector dealmakers in theREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Bank mergers in Spain’s concentrated market will require patience and diplomacy to execute – Dealspeak EMEA
Our brains are wired for storytelling, which gives populists an advantage in the internet age. There is a very simple solution for non-populists, who need to learn how to tell better reality-based narratives. Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog for more!
Tell Better Stories
How to win arguments in the public domain without expecting people to sharpen their axes
sharpenyouraxe.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Our brains are wired for storytelling, which gives populists an advantage in the internet age. There is a very simple solution for non-populists, who need to learn how to tell better reality-based narratives. Please check out the free weekly essay on my personal blog for more!
Private credit woes, Trump tariffs coerce US corporate right-scaling – podcast with @jwestjourno.bsky.social
Private credit woes, Trump tariffs coerce US corporate right-scaling – podcast
As parallels abound between the current US capital markets environment and the late-90s dotcom bubble, attention is also turning toREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Private credit woes, Trump tariffs coerce US corporate right-scaling – podcast with @jwestjourno.bsky.social
Mistral AI flatters French scale-up capital scene as political clouds gather — Dealspeak EMEA
Mistral AI flatters French scale-up capital scene as political clouds gather — Dealspeak EMEA
France’s venture capital (VC) fundraising scene has been providing support for a handful of superstars like Mistral AI while strugglingREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Mistral AI flatters French scale-up capital scene as political clouds gather — Dealspeak EMEA
Spanish government in crisis as Catalans withdraw their support
Spanish government in crisis as Catalans withdraw their support
PM Sanchez needs their votes. "Catalans could suppport no confidence vote"
www.majorcadailybulletin.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Spanish government in crisis as Catalans withdraw their support
What will happen if AI evolves to a point that humans no longer understand what is going on in the algorithmic black box? Please check out this week's free essay on my personal blog for my thoughts and some book recommendations.
Hosts and Ambassadors
How to communicate with alien intelligences
sharpenyouraxe.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
What will happen if AI evolves to a point that humans no longer understand what is going on in the algorithmic black box? Please check out this week's free essay on my personal blog for my thoughts and some book recommendations.
Taxfix pursues three-pronged M&A strategy in push for pan-European scale
Taxfix pursues three-pronged M&A strategy in push for pan-European scale
Germany-based Taxfix seeks acquisitions in existing and new markets, to gain product capabilities and new customers
ionanalytics.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Taxfix pursues three-pronged M&A strategy in push for pan-European scale
Hey Google, can AI chatbots replace investment bankers?
Hey Google, can AI chatbots replace investment bankers?
Is AI coming for investment banking jobs and mandates? Some experts see it as inevitable, if not already happening.
ionanalytics.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Hey Google, can AI chatbots replace investment bankers?
People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine
People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine
mRNA vaccines seem to boost the effectiveness of an immune therapy for skin and lung cancer ― in an unexpected way.
www.nature.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM
People with some cancers live longer after a COVID vaccine
Europe’s counter-drone strategy needs sponsor capital to scale heights – Dealspeak EMEA
Europe’s counter-drone strategy needs sponsor capital to scale heights – Dealspeak EMEA
The European Union’s (EU) anti-drone system strategy will require substantial private capital investment to gain altitude. Successfully launching a EuropeanREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Europe’s counter-drone strategy needs sponsor capital to scale heights – Dealspeak EMEA
Private credit’s public pivot in a crisis could become a more permanent shift
Private credit's public pivot in a crisis could become a more permanent shift
What began as an emergency measure during the 2022 bond market freeze is edging towards a structural shift, according toREAD MORE
ionanalytics.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Private credit’s public pivot in a crisis could become a more permanent shift
Corruption among elected officials has long been a hot topic throughout Spain. But, perhaps surprisingly, the roots of the problem come from a common practice: ordinary people shaving a little off tax bills when buying a home. Please check out this week's free weekly essay on my personal blog!
Corruption in Spain
An essay on how a culture of massaging tax bills creates a pool of undisclosed cash that can corrupt incumbent politicians
sharpenyouraxe.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Corruption among elected officials has long been a hot topic throughout Spain. But, perhaps surprisingly, the roots of the problem come from a common practice: ordinary people shaving a little off tax bills when buying a home. Please check out this week's free weekly essay on my personal blog!
BBVA fails in $19 billion takeover battle for Sabadell
www.reuters.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:07 AM
BBVA fails in $19 billion takeover battle for Sabadell
I always have massive respect for musicians who can have a run of three perfect albums in a row. D'Angelo is on that list! May he rest in peace.
October 16, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I always have massive respect for musicians who can have a run of three perfect albums in a row. D'Angelo is on that list! May he rest in peace.
Swiss corporates pursue outbound M&A to boost pharma pipelines, mitigate tariffs – Dealspeak EMEA
Swiss corporates pursue outbound M&A to boost pharma pipelines, mitigate tariffs – Dealspeak EMEA
M&A activity in Switzerland has shown resilience in 2025 despite macroeconomic headwinds, and is likely to continue to do so,READ MORE
ionanalytics.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Swiss corporates pursue outbound M&A to boost pharma pipelines, mitigate tariffs – Dealspeak EMEA