Mizuho's Equity Capital Markets team takes measure of where we are and contemplates a path forward for the healthcare markets, looking at IPO, M&A, follow-on and alternative capital transactions during Q2.

In our new series Blindspots, which examines the evolving role of the CFO, Abhishek Gupta, Chief Financial Officer of OYO, sat down with Anil Mittal, Managing Director, Industrials at Mizuho. OYO is an Indian multinational technology startup that has expanded to more than 150K+ hotels and vacation homes across 35+ countries. With over 100 million app downloads, it is the third-most-downloaded travel app globally. Abhishek and Anil discuss the hospitality industry during COVID, managing the challenges of a global business, and preparing to take the company public.

"With the recent market sell-off, valuations for office REITS have dropped from near peak levels, but they could fall further and may remain low for the foreseeable future:" Mizuho's Vikram Malhotra on how work from home and a potential economic recession will impact REIT values.

Consumer staples have historically been viewed as a defensive investment, and companies that make snacks and nutritional supplements could offer a growth opportunity in an otherwise slumping market, says Food and Healthy Living analyst John Baumgartner.

Upheaval has forged a uniquely flexible, adaptable faction of emerging talent entering the workforce, says Michal Katz, Head of Investment & Corporate Banking. She provides a few pieces of advice for recent graduates navigating this next phase of their lives.

With more than half of the world’s economic output dependent on nature, biodiversity loss poses immense challenges for people, business, and the financial system. David Craig, co-chair of the new Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), joined Mark Wheatcroft, Head of Sustainability, Mizuho EMEA, to discuss how we can help manage nature-related risks, shift financial flows, and create opportunities linking the environment and investment.

Utilities have long been a defensive investment option in troubled times, which has certainly held true this year. Senior Electric Utilities analyst Anthony Crowdell discusses the factors contributing to the sector’s outperformance and the companies with higher growth potential.

At Mizuho, we recognize the important of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors across our business, and strive to further embed sustainability into our strategy and culture. In our latest video for Mizuho staff, we highlight our firm-wide sustainability initiatives to help raise awareness, encourage action, and increase our positive impact on our local communities and society more broadly.

Issuers, for the most part, were willing to sit this quarter out, say Kevin Davies and Stephen Roney, Healthcare Investment & Corporate Banking. They provide a detailed look at the healthcare market’s rough Q1, and advice for issuers on the path forward.