Michael de la Merced
@mdelamerced.bsky.social
Distractible business reporter for The New York Times and DealBook. Tell me stuff.
https://linktr.ee/mdelamerced
https://linktr.ee/mdelamerced
Pinned
DealBook Summit - The New York Times Events
www.nytimes.com
Somehow I've gained a few new followers! FYI:
• I'm a business reporter @nytimes.com and DealBook, the (premier, IMO!) chronicle of business and policy news
• Tell me things! DM or linktr.ee/mdelamerced
• The DealBook Summit is tomorrow. Tune in for huge interviews: www.nytimes.com/events/dealb...
• I'm a business reporter @nytimes.com and DealBook, the (premier, IMO!) chronicle of business and policy news
• Tell me things! DM or linktr.ee/mdelamerced
• The DealBook Summit is tomorrow. Tune in for huge interviews: www.nytimes.com/events/dealb...
Rewatching "The Incredibles" for the first time in a while is a reminder that the opening bits include an ongoing bit about denying insurance claims ... and it hits very weirdly these days.
July 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Rewatching "The Incredibles" for the first time in a while is a reminder that the opening bits include an ongoing bit about denying insurance claims ... and it hits very weirdly these days.
It's always a bit difficult but fascinating to write an obit, and the most recent one was especially informative: Dick Beattie, the NYC legal legend who helped pioneer leveraged buyouts and featured heavily in "Barbarians at the Gate"
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/b...
Richard Beattie, Who Helped Pioneer Private Equity Takeovers, Dies at 86
A top Wall Street lawyer, he worked on some of the biggest corporate mergers in history, including KKR’s takeover of Nabisco in 1989. He also served in the Carter administration and in city government...
www.nytimes.com
June 11, 2025 at 9:43 PM
It's always a bit difficult but fascinating to write an obit, and the most recent one was especially informative: Dick Beattie, the NYC legal legend who helped pioneer leveraged buyouts and featured heavily in "Barbarians at the Gate"
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/b...
on.ft.com/4jB6PUs Top Paul Weiss lawyer defects from firm after its capitulation to Donald Trump
June 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
on.ft.com/4jB6PUs Top Paul Weiss lawyer defects from firm after its capitulation to Donald Trump
Does it feel like there are a lot of crypto physical attacks — ie, kidnappings, assaults, &c — these days? (Hard to escape that feeling with the latest arrests in NYC.)
@bwarner.bsky.social finds that we could be heading toward a record this year in today's DealBook www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/b...
@bwarner.bsky.social finds that we could be heading toward a record this year in today's DealBook www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/b...
May 28, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Does it feel like there are a lot of crypto physical attacks — ie, kidnappings, assaults, &c — these days? (Hard to escape that feeling with the latest arrests in NYC.)
@bwarner.bsky.social finds that we could be heading toward a record this year in today's DealBook www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/b...
@bwarner.bsky.social finds that we could be heading toward a record this year in today's DealBook www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/b...
Feels like this could be said of most memoirs these days, but yes, business moguls especially www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general...
Barry Diller and the Twilight of the Hollywood Tell-All
The juicy "Who Knew" reads like a last-of-the-Mohicans memoir for a business no longer defined by the big personalities and singular tastes of its iconoclasts.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Feels like this could be said of most memoirs these days, but yes, business moguls especially www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general...
Terrific story — and a blast from my SF past. Haven't thought about the coyotes since we used to walk our (then-puppy) dog in Bernal Heights in the mid-2010s, and owners of small canines were hypervigilant about coyotes
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/u...
The Coyotes of San Francisco
www.nytimes.com
May 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Terrific story — and a blast from my SF past. Haven't thought about the coyotes since we used to walk our (then-puppy) dog in Bernal Heights in the mid-2010s, and owners of small canines were hypervigilant about coyotes
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/u...
May 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
As an American Catholic — with all the internal contradictions and emotional baggage that entails — it’s still kind of amazing to see an American pope
May 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
As an American Catholic — with all the internal contradictions and emotional baggage that entails — it’s still kind of amazing to see an American pope
Capitalists the world over are still reckoning with Warren Buffett finally announcing that he would seek to step down as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.
But why was this so affecting — to both average investors and moguls like Bill Ackman and Jamie Dimon? 🧵
But why was this so affecting — to both average investors and moguls like Bill Ackman and Jamie Dimon? 🧵
May 4, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Capitalists the world over are still reckoning with Warren Buffett finally announcing that he would seek to step down as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.
But why was this so affecting — to both average investors and moguls like Bill Ackman and Jamie Dimon? 🧵
But why was this so affecting — to both average investors and moguls like Bill Ackman and Jamie Dimon? 🧵
What's kept me busy today: Warren Buffett finally announcing that he plans to retire, by year end. Greg Abel will be his successor — and appeared shocked to hear Buffett's plans, announced in front of tens of thousands in Omaha
For @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/b...
For @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/b...
Warren Buffett Plans to Step Down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO by End of 2025
Mr. Buffett said at the annual shareholders’ meeting that he wanted to turn over the reins to Greg Abel at the end of the year. Earlier, he criticized Trump’s trade policies.
www.nytimes.com
May 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
What's kept me busy today: Warren Buffett finally announcing that he plans to retire, by year end. Greg Abel will be his successor — and appeared shocked to hear Buffett's plans, announced in front of tens of thousands in Omaha
For @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/b...
For @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/b...
Everything is local eu.amestrib.com/story/news/2...
Des Moines resident to become Berkshire Hathaway CEO by end of year, Warren Buffett says
Warren Buffett said Saturday he will step down by year’s end, paving the way for Des Moines man Greg Abel to take over the conglomerate.
eu.amestrib.com
May 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Everything is local eu.amestrib.com/story/news/2...
Thrive Capital, Josh Kushner's VC firm, has long invested in AI companies like OpenAI. But now it's betting on a different kind of strategy: buying and building AI start-ups — largely in unsexy sectors like, um, IT.
Yes, others are trying to do that too. But Thrive is doing something else 🧵
Yes, others are trying to do that too. But Thrive is doing something else 🧵
April 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Thrive Capital, Josh Kushner's VC firm, has long invested in AI companies like OpenAI. But now it's betting on a different kind of strategy: buying and building AI start-ups — largely in unsexy sectors like, um, IT.
Yes, others are trying to do that too. But Thrive is doing something else 🧵
Yes, others are trying to do that too. But Thrive is doing something else 🧵
This is the content I want, having just rewatched "Conclave" again www.vulture.com/article/conc...
Which Papal Candidate Is Which Guy From Conclave?
We made a (holy) spirited effort.
www.vulture.com
April 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
This is the content I want, having just rewatched "Conclave" again www.vulture.com/article/conc...
Reposted by Michael de la Merced
I wrote about how this underscores Chobani's growth ambitions and a potential future attempt at an IPO.
But another interesting thing that Ulukaya spoke about was Chobani's commitment to hiring refugees, even in this moment.
“We cannot operate any other way,” he said. “To me, anybody is welcome.”
But another interesting thing that Ulukaya spoke about was Chobani's commitment to hiring refugees, even in this moment.
“We cannot operate any other way,” he said. “To me, anybody is welcome.”
April 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I wrote about how this underscores Chobani's growth ambitions and a potential future attempt at an IPO.
But another interesting thing that Ulukaya spoke about was Chobani's commitment to hiring refugees, even in this moment.
“We cannot operate any other way,” he said. “To me, anybody is welcome.”
But another interesting thing that Ulukaya spoke about was Chobani's commitment to hiring refugees, even in this moment.
“We cannot operate any other way,” he said. “To me, anybody is welcome.”
ICYMI: I got a jump on Chobani announcing that it plans to spend more than $1bn on a huge new factory in Rome, NY, in what it says will the largest dairy products plant in the nation.
Why? The company insists it expects to keep growing hugely. 🧵
Why? The company insists it expects to keep growing hugely. 🧵
April 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
ICYMI: I got a jump on Chobani announcing that it plans to spend more than $1bn on a huge new factory in Rome, NY, in what it says will the largest dairy products plant in the nation.
Why? The company insists it expects to keep growing hugely. 🧵
Why? The company insists it expects to keep growing hugely. 🧵
Jesus, it's been a while, longer than I could have ever dreamed of. Also, perhaps a sign that I've been here so long I forgot when my work anniversary was
April 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Jesus, it's been a while, longer than I could have ever dreamed of. Also, perhaps a sign that I've been here so long I forgot when my work anniversary was
Our pain is real. (But seriously, Jonny Kim's résumé is as gold-plated as it gets.)
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/jo...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/jo...
Navy SEAL. Harvard Doctor. NASA Astronaut. Don’t Tell Mom About This Overachiever.
Jonny Kim’s achievements at age 41 have been a global source of inspiration—and mild dismay; ‘Every Asian kid’s worst nightmare.’
www.wsj.com
April 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Our pain is real. (But seriously, Jonny Kim's résumé is as gold-plated as it gets.)
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/jo...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/jo...
Rippling says Keith O'Brien, the payroll employee whom it accuses of spying for archrival Deel, has confessed in Irish court — and that his handler was Deel cofounder and CEO Alex Bouaziz.
O'Brien says he was paid thousands, with codewords straight from a spy novel. More TK shortly
O'Brien says he was paid thousands, with codewords straight from a spy novel. More TK shortly
April 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Rippling says Keith O'Brien, the payroll employee whom it accuses of spying for archrival Deel, has confessed in Irish court — and that his handler was Deel cofounder and CEO Alex Bouaziz.
O'Brien says he was paid thousands, with codewords straight from a spy novel. More TK shortly
O'Brien says he was paid thousands, with codewords straight from a spy novel. More TK shortly
Reposted by Michael de la Merced
Its gone to the Irish High Court this morning! This chap is in big trouble!! www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
Dublin office employee used by rival company to obtain trade secrets, global HR firm claims
Employee locked himself in toilet after being asked to hand over phone, High Court told
www.irishtimes.com
March 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Its gone to the Irish High Court this morning! This chap is in big trouble!! www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
This is one of the stranger, and more gripping, tales of a software rivalry I've heard of recently: accusations of a mole, a "honeypot" trap and the alleged spy fleeing to a bathroom when confronted. (It's in today's DealBook newsletter)
Oh, and it involves two HR providers, Rippling and Deel 🧵
Oh, and it involves two HR providers, Rippling and Deel 🧵
March 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This is one of the stranger, and more gripping, tales of a software rivalry I've heard of recently: accusations of a mole, a "honeypot" trap and the alleged spy fleeing to a bathroom when confronted. (It's in today's DealBook newsletter)
Oh, and it involves two HR providers, Rippling and Deel 🧵
Oh, and it involves two HR providers, Rippling and Deel 🧵
What a description
March 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
What a description
Spicing up the Tulane M&A law conference this morning
March 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Spicing up the Tulane M&A law conference this morning
Does anyone have an opinion on Bluetooth keyboards? Am specifically curious about how, say, the Satechi X1/X2 stack up to the Apple Magic Keyboard. (Am potentially open to mechanical keybs as well, but the noise during Zoom calls might be a dealbreaker)
March 4, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Does anyone have an opinion on Bluetooth keyboards? Am specifically curious about how, say, the Satechi X1/X2 stack up to the Apple Magic Keyboard. (Am potentially open to mechanical keybs as well, but the noise during Zoom calls might be a dealbreaker)
Getting on a flight, which of course means “watch blockbusters on a sub-iPad-quality screen” time
March 4, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Getting on a flight, which of course means “watch blockbusters on a sub-iPad-quality screen” time
Alex Clavel, the head of SoftBank's Vision Funds, told me that yes, the Japanese tech investor is being mindful of AI valuations — but it feels like it has to pay for entry.
“Valuing world-beating companies in revolutionary times is not an easy thing to pinpoint,” he told me for today's DealBook
“Valuing world-beating companies in revolutionary times is not an easy thing to pinpoint,” he told me for today's DealBook
March 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Alex Clavel, the head of SoftBank's Vision Funds, told me that yes, the Japanese tech investor is being mindful of AI valuations — but it feels like it has to pay for entry.
“Valuing world-beating companies in revolutionary times is not an easy thing to pinpoint,” he told me for today's DealBook
“Valuing world-beating companies in revolutionary times is not an easy thing to pinpoint,” he told me for today's DealBook