The Lens on Corporate Markets

Hosted by MUFG Corporate Markets

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May 2026

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About the show

Are you a governance or financial professional? Hit subscribe for news, tips and a breakdown of the main issues you need to know. In each episode, we talk to industry experts about all things Corporate Markets with the aim of helping you progress with confidence. This podcast is brought to you by MUFG Corporate Markets, a division of MUFG Pension & Market Services. For more information, please visit mpms.mufg.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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46 recent

May 18, 202634 min

ESG Fatigue or ESG Evolution? Exploring smarter approaches for growth companies

Five years ago, ESG sat at the heart of almost every company’s policy agenda. So what’s changed?In this episode of The Lens on Corporate Markets, Josh Sparks from MUFG Corporate Markets sits down with Nina Spencer and Livvie Kirkbride from leading ESG consultancy Addidat to unpack ESG fatigue, explore why momentum has shifted, and discuss why ESG still matters when done well.They share practical insights on moving beyond box‑ticking to build ESG strategies that are proportionate, purposeful and commercially meaningful for growth companies today.If you’d like to learn more about Addidat, please visit https://www.addidat.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 17, 202543 min

The 2025 AGM Season Review: Governance, Engagement & the Road to 2026

In this special episode, MUFG Corporate Markets’ Josh Sparks sits down with David Chase Lopes from D.F. King to unpack the newly released Annual General Meeting Season Review report - a fully bespoke, four‑month research project examining AGMs across the UK and Europe. Together, they explore how the governance landscape is shifting, what boards should prioritise going into 2026, and how companies can more effectively engage with investors in an increasingly opaque environment. If you’d like to download the Annual General Meeting Season Review report, please visit - https://www.mpms.mufg.com/en/insights/launching-our-annual-general-meeting-season-review-report-2025/ You can also connect directly with David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchaselopes/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 10, 202536 min

How has the Investor Relations landscape evolved in 2025?

In this episode, Josh Sparks is joined by Gustav Pegers from MUFG Corporate Markets’ Investor Relations team. This conversation was an opportunity for Gustav to share what IR trends his team are seeing across the market, as well as sharing some invaluable insights from MUFG Corporate Markets’ first client survey from earlier this year. If you’d like to download our Investor Relations Annual Survey report , please visit - https://www.mpms.mufg.com/en/insights/launching-our-investor-relations-annual-survey-report/ You can also connect with Gustav directly at - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustav-pegers-2a11081/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 14, 202536 min

The Deal Team's Blueprint for IPO Success

In this episode, MUFG Corporate Markets’ Josh Sparks is joined by Julian Macedo, founder of The Deal Team. This conversation was an opportunity for Julian to provide a high-level look at how IPO markets have evolved, reflect on the challenges boards and founders face, and explore what companies need to know before going public. If you’d like to learn more about The Deal Team, please visit - https://thedealteam.com/ You can also connect with Julian directly at - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianmacedo/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 9, 202541 min

Cutting through the hype of AI

In this episode, MUFG Corporate Markets' Josh Sparks is joined by Oliver Cronk, Technology Director at bespoke software engineering consultancy, Scott Logic to discuss the practical realities of implementing AI in highly regulated markets.  From spending analysis, chatbots, to the risks of AI - this conversation cuts through the AI hype to focus on real-world applications, governance challenges, and lessons learned from past technology cycles. If you'd like to find out more about Scott Logic, please visit https://www.scottlogic.com/ You can also find out more about Oliver's 'cone of uncertainty' and connect with him on LinkedIn by visiting - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/navigating-cone-ai-uncertainty-oliver-cronk-mfvoe/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 24, 202544 min

The rise of M&A Activity and Activism in 2025

In this episode, MUFG Corporate Markets’ Josh Sparks catches up with David Chase Lopes from D.F. King Ltd. David takes us through what trends his team have been seeing across the M&A Landscape, the increase in shareholder activism as well as providing some key insights around Corporate Activity in 2025. If you’d like to connect with David on LinkedIn, please visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchaselopes/ You can also learn more about D.F. King Ltd. by visiting https://www.mpms.mufg.com/en/mufg-corporate-markets/uk/services/proxy-solicitation/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 6, 202435 min

Capital Markets - where are we? A conversation with London Stock Exchange

In this episode, MUFG Corporate Markets’ Josh Sparks, catches up with Bod Buckby, Head of UK Primary Markets North, at London Stock Exchange. Bod take us through market trends his team have been seeing this year, as well as providing some key insights around IPO activity ahead of this year’s IPO Forum, which is London Stock Exchange’s flagship event intended to assist management teams and shareholders of UK and international private companies considering a possible IPO in London. If you’d like to find out more about the upcoming IPO Forum, please visit - https://www.lsegissuerservices.com/spark/mud3XYH76p97jtZeSnyWT9/london-stock-exchange-s-ipo-forum-november-2024 You can also connect with Bod on LinkedIn at - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bodbuckby/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 22, 202423 min

Resetting expectations for London’s IPO market

In this episode, Link Group’s Josh Sparks, Head of Partnerships and Intermediaries, catches up with Simon Olsen, Partner at Deloitte. Simon and his team recently published a report called ‘Resetting Expectations’, which provides a deep-dive into IPO market trends for 2024 and beyond. This conversation was an opportunity for Simon take us through what his team have been seeing across the market, some key findings from their report, and much more.If you’d like to download Deloitte’s recent publication – please go to  https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/financial-advisory/articles/equity-capital-markets-update.htmlYou can also connect with Simon on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-olsen-582aa74/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 20, 202416 min

Share plan successes at Admiral Group

Share plans are one of the most celebrated ways for companies to reward their top talent and retain staff. In this episode, Link Group’s very own Jake Dear sits down with Andy Martin, Group Share Plan Manager at Admiral Group plc. Andy and his team won the award for Best Overall Performance in Fostering Employee Share Ownership at the 2023 ProShare Awards, so this was an opportunity for him to share some insights around how share plans can help companies and their employees achieve positive outcomes. If you’d like to find out more about Admiral Group plc, please visit https://admiralgroup.co.uk/ And if you’d like to find out how the team at Link Group can support you and your employees, please visit https://www.linkgroup.eu/services/services/share-plans/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 1, 202422 min

Everything you need to know about the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code

In this episode, Link Group’s very own Steve Playford sits down with Maureen Beresford, who leads the Corporate Governance and Stewardship Team at the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), and Karen Waldron from Company Matters, to talk us through the recently-published 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code, and what this means for issuer companies and practitioners.If you’d like to find out about the FRC and the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code, go to www.frc.org.ukYou can also learn more about Company Matters, Link Group’s company secretarial and governance experts, by visiting https://www.companymatters.co.uk/ Finally, if you’d like to learn more about our Ahead community for corporate governance professionals, you can sign up to this free programme at https://www.companymatters.co.uk/ahead/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.