Strategic Alternatives

Hosted by RBC Capital Markets

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110

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Uncover new ways to drive growth and create value with insights from our capital markets experts.

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August 10, 202616 min

How AI infrastructure and M&A are reshaping corporate finance

AI infrastructure investment, M&A activity and evolving treasury demands are reshaping how companies access capital and manage liquidity. Vito Sperduto, Head, RBC Capital Markets U.S., Raja Khanna, Head of U.S. Corporate Banking, and Kartik Kaushik, Head of U.S. Cash Management, discuss what's driving capital deployment, how financing strategies are evolving and why treasury is becoming an increasingly strategic function.Key points:Corporate borrowers continue to navigate elevated rates, growing lender competition and an evolving private credit landscape.AI infrastructure investment and M&A activity are driving demand for financing and reshaping capital structure decisions.Treasury is moving from a cost-centre view to becoming an increasingly important part of strategic planning, capital allocation and transaction readiness.As companies manage cash across multiple markets and currencies, visibility, transparency and control remain key priorities.For borrowers, flexibility in capital structure and financing options remains a priority, while treasury teams continue to focus on liquidity visibility and working capital control.Listen and subscribe to Strategic Alternatives on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about corporate banking, treasury management, liquidity solutions or capital markets strategy, please contact your RBC Capital Markets representative or visit rbccm.com.

July 17, 20269 min

China’s EV makers are already reshaping global auto markets

China’s electric vehicle leadership is reshaping the global audio industry. In this episode, host Joe Coletti speaks with Tom Narayan, Lead Equity Analyst in Global Autos at RBC Capital Markets, to explore how China built its EV advantage, why its OEMs are expanding into Europe and eyeing the U.S., and what this means for Western automakers, suppliers, and consumers.Key points:China’s EV advantage is rooted in battery supply chains, subsidies, labor costs and domestic market scale.Chinese OEMs are expanding beyond their home market through exports and localization in Europe.European OEMs may lose share, but Western suppliers could benefit if Chinese OEMs rely on them abroad.Chinese OEMs are technically ready for the U.S. market, but policy volatility and tariffs remain major barriers.Chinese consumers are shaping the next phase of electric vehicle technology through demand for autonomy and tech-forward features.Listen and subscribe to Strategic Alternatives on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share the podcast with others.To learn more about RBC Imagine, access the flagship report, or continue the conversation, contact your RBC representative or visit rbccm.com/imagine.

July 7, 202611 min

APA Corporation is poised for an oil market shift

Amid soaring power demand and energy security concerns, will the market start to place more value on conventional oil and gas production again? Ben Rodgers believes that it will, and that APA Corporation is well placed to benefit when the moment comes. In this episode of Innovators and Ideas, he sets out the company’s strategy across diverse territories and commodities.Key Points• Oil and gas group APA Corporation has continued to explore as well as produce.• Producing oil and gas, and working across continents, offers diversified exposure.• The company has brought in Total for a joint venture in Suriname.• A major restructuring was designed to advance APA’s objective of being a cost leader.

July 1, 202616 min

Seizing opportunity across power, utilities and infrastructure

Global power demand is rising sharply, and geopolitical instability is accelerating the need for secure, affordable, and diversified energy systems. In this episode, host Joe Colletti speaks with Robert Kwan, Head of Global Power, Utilities & Infrastructure Research, and Maurice Choy, Canadian Energy Infrastructure Analyst, to explore how RBC Imagine themes—energy security, affordability, crisis capitalism, synthetic technologies, and shifting superpowers—are reshaping the sector.The conversation highlights how utilities, midstream operators, and infrastructure investors are navigating a world where energy transition, digital demand, and geopolitical conflict collide. As Robert notes, “this current environment is hammering home to a broad population how important energy is to everybody’s daily lives”.Key PointsGeopolitical conflict is reinforcing a global “all of the above” approach to energy supply.Rising energy prices are intensifying affordability pressures across households and industries.Hyperscalers and digital platforms are rapidly becoming dominant global electricity consumers.Utilities are investing heavily in resilience to manage climate, cyber, and grid instability risks.Synthetic technologies are improving efficiency and reducing supply‑chain vulnerabilities.Canada is increasingly well‑positioned to expand global energy exports across fuels and electricity.Massive infrastructure investment is required to deliver diversified, secure global energy systems.

June 26, 20268 min

Which software companies can avoid the AI ‘SaaSpocalypse’?

Software valuations remain squeezed amid dire predictions of ‘SaaSpocalypse’. But the real future of the sector is likely to be more complex, as RBC’s recent Canadian Private Tech Conference underlined. In this episode, Software Analysts Paul Treiber (Canada) and Rishi Jaluria (U.S.) reflect on the competing visions presented at the event, and consider how AI’s impact on the sector – and other industries – is playing out.Key Points• Innovation will be the key differentiator for software companies’ survival as AI disruption continues.• AI is targeting companies’ labor budgets rather than IT spend.• Software M&A remains subdued, pending a recovery in valuations.• Power constraints are limiting the scaling of AI.Introductions [00:06]Paul Treiber introduces colleague Rishi Jaluria for a discussion about the RBC Canadian Private Tech Conference, which featured 25 differentiated tech companies.Software’s future [00:40]The conference presented competing views of AI’s impact on software. Some foresee the ‘SaaSpocalypse’, with software headcount shrinking as AI self-compounds. Others are harnessing AI to move faster and say their customers are expanding software use. Vertical software firms in regulated, workflow-dense environments are better insulated from disruption.Labor impact [03:09]Rather than eating into IT budgets, AI is cannibalizing labor. Beyond software, entire industries are being disrupted. Some believe financial intermediation may disappear.Constraints on AI [04:43]AI processing is accelerating, but memory is growing more slowly and interconnect failing to keep pace, acting as a constraint.M&A [05:15]M&A activity is subdued and will only revive with a recovery in valuations.Sovereign clouds [05:52]Sovereign clouds are seen by some as a tailwind for Canadian companies. Others believe local hosting will prove unnecessary.

June 22, 202614 min

Why TC Energy sees renewed opportunity in Canada

With a 75-year track record under its belt, TC Energy is poised to enter a new phase of growth, thanks to a presence across North America and the growing demand for energy at home and abroad. In conversation at RBC’s Global Energy, Power and Infrastructure Conference, President and CEO François Poirier outlines the company’s current tailwinds, and why he sees particular LNG growth opportunities for Canada.Key Points• Canada has new opportunities to meet growing global demand for LNG.• TC Energy is lifting self-imposed capital allocation limits as it seeks to grow its assets across North America.• Safety, profitability and asset reliability are closely entwined in the success of the business.

June 18, 202615 min

Canada’s national ambitions give hope to industrials

RBC's Canadian Industrials Conference in Toronto wrapped with more reasons for optimism than many expected. In this conference takeaway, Walter Spracklin, Director of Canadian Research and Co-Head of Global Industrials Research, debriefs with analysts Sabahat Khan, James McGarragle, and Matthew McKellar on the key themes that emerged. Steel producers are finding ways to mitigate U.S. tariffs, the freight recession is easing, and the most significant buzz centred on the government's nation-building infrastructure and defence plans.Key Points• Canada’s nation-building plans are boosting industrial confidence, while its defense strategy creates a tailwind for the country’s aerospace sector.• Tighter supply has helped to ease the long-running freight recession.• Steel suppliers are diversifying from U.S. exposure to mitigate trade tariffs.• Tariffs have also hit lumber hard, with supply tightening in response.• AI deployment is positioning the transport sector for operational efficiencies.Introductions [00:06]Host Walter Spracklin refers to RBC’s recent Canadian industrials conference in Toronto, which heard from 38 participating companies. He introduces three colleagues – Sabahat Khan, James McGarragle, and Matthew McKellar – to discuss the key themes that emerged.Freight recession eases [00:47]The freight recession dominated last year’s conference, but tighter supply driven by regulatory changes has lifted pricing, with positive impacts on rail too.Tariff impacts on industrials [02:05]Section 232 tariffs are creating direct impacts across steel-exposed industrials, while broader tariff uncertainty is delaying some large capital project decisions.Government plans inject confidence [04:30]The Canadian government’s new strategies on nation-building infrastructure are lifting confidence in the market. Its plans to increase defense spending and prioritize Canadian producers are seen as a potentially lasting tailwind for aerospace companies.Paper and forest production [9:36]Demand is poor and the lumber sector has been hit hard by tariffs. However, tighter supply has set up the industry for better conditions at lower levels of demand in future.AI and capital allocation [13:01]Other common themes at the conference were the deployment of AI to achieve efficiencies, especially in transport; and the disciplined allocation of capital, balancing organic growth with strategic M&A.

June 16, 202623 min

Complexity multiplies for infrastructure to power the transition

The expansion of power and infrastructure to support the energy transition is unfolding against a complex backdrop. Policy uncertainty, geopolitical tension, and shifting market forces are colliding with record investment and a rapidly evolving mix of technologies. Ralph Ibendahl, Global Head of Energy Transition and Co-head of Power Utilities for Europe, assesses the challenges and opportunities with expert colleagues from the U.S., Canada, and Australia.Key Points• Increasing global power demand is leading to growth across all power types and grids.• Policymakers need to balance affordability concerns with growth opportunities.• Recent deals include financing for a major nuclear project in Canada, and build-out of Germany’s grid.• Companies are drawing on a full mix of funding types, including infrastructure equity, private credit, and structured capital.• Many companies are turning to the public markets, where valuations are stronger.• RBC Capital Markets is guiding clients through this volatile market.

June 9, 202631 min

Big-value deals set the pace in healthcare M&A

Life sciences is a hub of dealmaking activity. Over the past year, more than 30 transactions valued at $1 billion or more have crossed the finish line. But the picture in other segments of healthcare is more mixed. At RBC Capital Markets’ Global Healthcare Conference in New York, Darren Campili, Global Head of Healthcare Investment Banking, hosts colleagues David Levin, Ahmed Attia and Jason Levitz to explore what's driving deals and where the opportunities are heading.Key PointsHealthcare M&A is strong, with a surge of high-value deals in life sciences.Equity performance is challenging, but investors in life sciences and biotech have seen good outcomes.IPO activity has rebounded; again, life sciences and biotech are most successful.Dealmaking has been largely unaffected by regulatory uncertainty, though challenges remain on reimbursement and MFN pricing.Larger companies believe they have the edge in using AI for profitability and competitiveness.Introductions [00:25]Host Darren Campili, Global Head of Healthcare Investment Banking, introduces the podcast and guests: David Levin, Co-Head of U.S. M&A; Ahmed Attia, Managing Director, Healthcare M&A; and Jason Levitz, Head of Healthcare Equity Capital Markets.M&A strength in healthcare [01:11]The M&A market in life sciences is extremely strong. The number of $1 billion-plus deals has tripled in the past year. There has been significant activity among mid-caps as well as large-cap companies, and a diversity of premiums.Healthcare in the equity markets [13:24]In the broader context of the U.S. equity markets, healthcare is performing poorly, particularly among large-cap medtech and services companies. At the same time, life sciences and biotechs are outperforming, leading to diverse outcomes for investors.IPO activity [15:20]IPO volumes have rebounded after some disappointing years. Deal flow has centered on oncology, I&I, and CNS.Political impact [24:15]Dealmaking has continued despite uncertainty over the FDA. Tariff policy has been a net positive for U.S. inflows as pharma businesses seek U.S. capabilities. Managing reimbursement and Most Favored Nation pricing remains challenging for some.

June 5, 202619 min

Investment strategy through the ‘up crash’ and beyond

The markets’ wild ride continues, with valuations defying high volatility. How long can the ‘up crash’ last, and what factors might bring about a correction? At RBC’s Global Energy, Power and Infrastructure Conference, Callie Simpkins, Managing Director, Cross-Asset Hedge Fund Sales, discusses the potential scenarios with Lori Calvasina, Head of U.S. Equity Strategy, and Amy Wu Silverman, Managing Director and Head of Derivatives Strategy.