Done Deal – Insights from our M&A and Activism team – June 2026
Insights from our M&A and Activism team
Welcome to the latest installment of Done Deal. This month, Senior Consultant Juliane Wenzel offers a behind-the-scenes look at the recent SuperReturn conference through a short video recap. We also explore the energy M&A conversation following TPH&Co.’s annual energy conference and share themes that may dominate the industry in the coming years. Additionally, we highlight insights from our 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index, which examines how leading firms are adapting to a rapidly evolving market environment. Finally, in our colleague spotlight, Juliane Wenzel shares her perspective on current market trends.
SuperReturn 2026 Recap
The Winds Are Beginning to Shift: Five Themes Emerging Across the Energy Sector
The energy conversation is shifting. At TPH&Co.’s annual conference, it wasn’t geopolitics dominating the room — it was AI, data centers, power infrastructure, and a new definition of scarcity. Our experts Mike Gaudreau and Andrea Hearon pulled out five themes that may define the next phase of the energy cycle.
2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index
Private equity is at an inflection point. Firms can no longer buy cheap and lever up — they must build value from the inside out. For the first time, the annual survey of 550+ senior PE leaders isolates the “high performers” consistently exceeding their business case. These firms have moved beyond financial engineering to accelerate value through commercial intensity, AI-amplified execution and M&A discipline.
What We’re Up To
Meet our Team: 30 seconds with Juliane Wenzel
Describe your area of expertise at FTI and the value you bring to clients?
Transactions are often defining moments for a company’s reputation and stakeholder relationships. My focus is on helping corporates and private equity firms navigate these situations successfully, from public and private M&A transactions to IPO preparations and other transformative events. By developing clear communications strategies and balancing the interests of different stakeholder groups, I help clients maintain trust and confidence throughout a process. Having worked on both corporate and sponsor-led transactions, I understand the different priorities and expectations that shape a successful outcome.
What trends are you seeing in your marketplace?
During my secondment in London, I have the opportunity to observe both the UK and German markets up close. While dealmaking in London often feels faster-paced and more international, both markets are increasingly shaped by the same themes: geopolitical uncertainty, the search for growth and a stronger focus on resilience and security. Having just returned from SuperReturn in Berlin, one message stood out: there is no shortage of capital, but investors are becoming increasingly selective about where they deploy it, with strong interest in sectors such as defence, infrastructure and technology. At the same time, we are seeing growing momentum around portfolio optimisation, carve-outs and sponsor-led exits as both corporates and private equity firms look to streamline portfolios and generate liquidity. Against this backdrop, strategic communications continues to play a critical role in building stakeholder support and helping transactions achieve their objectives.
What do you do outside of work that helps you reset and stay sharp for the next professional challenge?
While making the most of my time in London and exploring the city’s excellent restaurant scene, I really enjoy travelling and discovering new places and cultures (this autumn, you will likely find me somewhere along the Silk Road). To balance out my enthusiasm for culinary delights, running and the occasional HIIT class are part of the routine and help me clear my head. My favourite way to stay active, however, involves a racket – whether that’s tennis, padel or almost any other racket sport.
Contact Us
To be added to the distribution list for FTI Consulting’s M&A and Activism Insights, or for further information on the dedicated M&A and Activism team at FTI Consulting, please contact Edward Bridges ([email protected]) Pat Tucker ([email protected]) or Alex Le May ([email protected]).
| The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of FTI Consulting, its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals. ©2026 FTI Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. www.fticonsulting.com |
