Corporate Finance

One in four finance leaders worldwide plans to increase AI spending by over 50% while cutting legacy technology budgets, according to OneStream survey data. Oracle and OneStream are competing for enterprise deployments across international markets as finance departments shift from pilot programs to core AI operations. The platform race intensifies ahead of 2026-2027 budget cycles spanning corporate finance teams from North America to Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Duke Energy, Liberty Global's Virgin Media O2, Eutelsat, and Multitude AG are refinancing debt maturing between 2026-2028, tapping compressed credit spreads before potential volatility. The wave spans US utilities, European telecoms, and satellite operators, reflecting acceptance that favorable market conditions may not improve. Liberty Global targets GBP 200 million free cash flow from VMO2 in 2026 while managing competitive pressure in UK markets.

Nearly one quarter of global CFOs plan to increase AI spending by over 50%, according to OneStream's survey of finance leaders. The U.S.-based enterprise software firm launched Finance Pilot AI alongside the data, targeting automated financial operations as companies worldwide redirect budgets from legacy systems to AI infrastructure.

Three multinational corporations are refinancing $3.2 billion in debt ahead of maturity deadlines, led by satellite operator Eutelsat's €1.5 billion senior notes and Duke Energy's $1 billion replacement offering. The coordinated moves reflect a global trend as companies across North America and Europe seek extended maturities and improved borrowing terms before potential credit market tightening.

Duke Energy launched a $1 billion convertible notes offering in March 2026, while Eutelsat initiated a concurrent €1.5 billion senior notes offering, both targeting debt refinancing rather than growth investments. The synchronized activity across US and European markets signals a global shift toward balance sheet optimization, with companies from retail to telecommunications deploying cash for debt reduction and shareholder returns rather than expansion.

Eutelsat Communications secured a €1.5 billion debt refinancing in late 2025, part of a coordinated corporate restructuring wave spanning European and North American markets. Companies across sectors are extending debt maturities at lower rates while deploying cash through aggressive buybacks, with U.S. firms Graco and Valero joining European satellite operators in capital optimization strategies.

French satellite operator Eutelsat is refinancing €1.5 billion in senior notes as corporate treasurers worldwide exploit favorable conditions to restructure balance sheets. The move coincides with accelerating cross-border M&A including Tencent's Hong Kong diagnostics stake increase and EP Group's bid for French retailer Fnac Darty, while US industrials deploy strong cash flows toward buybacks.

Corporate mergers and acquisitions exceeded $15 billion in early 2026, led by Keurig Dr Pepper's acquisition of Dutch coffee giant JDE Peet's and accelerating divestitures across consumer goods and financial services. Deal volume rose 28% from Q4 2025, with Q2 tracking ahead as companies restructure amid global capital cost pressures and regulatory shifts.

CFOs across major markets forecast 10-12% adjusted EPS growth for 2026, with EBITDA margins reaching 23.5% as restructuring initiatives reshape global corporate structures. Siemens leads European separation trends while North American firms like Keurig Dr Pepper pursue transformative M&A, marking a shift from cost-cutting to growth-focused reorganization.

Corporate finance chiefs are navigating major separations and cross-border mergers in early 2026, with Siemens pursuing splits and beverage giants Keurig Dr Pepper and JDE Peet's exploring consolidation. The leadership churn reflects a strategic shift prioritizing margin expansion over revenue growth as companies respond to activist pressure and economic uncertainty.

Business development companies worldwide reduced dividends 15% in February 2026 as OpenAI's $110 billion capital raise accelerated corporate shifts toward AI infrastructure spending. Gold surged past $5,250 per ounce amid Middle East tensions while 716 million cryptocurrency owners globally signaled diverging safe-haven strategies across markets.

Vertiv Holdings refinanced $3.4 billion in debt during Q4 2025, joining a global wave of corporate treasurers locking in lower rates before anticipated growth. The trend spans sectors worldwide, with companies from North America to Europe restructuring balance sheets while pursuing M&A and shareholder returns.

Gauzy Ltd.'s French subsidiary under Chutzpah Holdings has entered insolvency proceedings as board members exit and the parent launches an emergency funding round from existing investors. The crisis at the smart glass maker's European operations signals execution failures in a market where French insolvency law exposes directors to personal liability for wrongful trading.

Wells Fargo Securities downgraded FMC Corp, warning the U.S. agricultural chemicals manufacturer could breach debt covenants and face accelerated loan maturity. The downgrade reflects weakening leverage ratios across the global agrochemical industry as falling crop prices reduce farmer spending on crop protection products. FMC competes internationally with Corteva, Germany's BASF, and China-owned Syngenta in markets facing margin pressure from generic competition.

Four major acquisitions closed simultaneously across US markets—Smithfield bought Nathan's Famous, ZenaTech acquired 18 drone firms, Evolution Petroleum expanded upstream assets, and Chevron completed its $53bn Hess merger. The coordinated activity signals renewed corporate confidence in global M&A markets after 2025's slowdown, with deal pipelines rising across North America, Europe and Asia.

Energos Infrastructure pulled a $2 billion high-yield bond offering amid tightening credit conditions, exposing refinancing risks across Apollo Global Management's infrastructure portfolio. The collapse reflects broader stress in global junk debt markets, where $180 billion in infrastructure debt matures through 2027. Private equity-backed utilities face mounting pressure as the low-rate borrowing era ends.

Montreal-based NuRAN Wireless will dilute existing shareholders by over 70% through debt-to-equity conversion, reflecting broader challenges in rural telecommunications where 1.2 billion people across Africa, Asia, and Latin America still lack mobile broadband. The wireless infrastructure provider serves markets where monthly revenue per user averages $5 versus $50-100 in developed economies.

Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský's acquisition of French retailer Fnac Darty carries a 70% regulatory rejection risk, analysts say. European authorities are expanding scrutiny beyond infrastructure to major retail chains as foreign investment screening intensifies across the EU.

Constellation Energy beat earnings for the fourth consecutive year, joining Essential Utilities, Itron, and Ellington Financial in a wave of balance sheet optimization across US markets. The trend mirrors capital efficiency drives in European and Asian markets, where companies leverage strong 2025 results to execute convertible debt offerings and aggressive buybacks.

58% of accounts payable professionals worldwide skip fraud verification steps due to time constraints, driving $41 billion in annual corporate losses. Manual verification requires 8-12 minutes per invoice, prompting teams processing 15-30 daily invoices to cut corners. AI-automated systems complete 100% of checks in 2-4 minutes, achieving 94% fraud detection versus 67% for manual processes.