Last year’s M&A market was just like the 2023 Green Bay Packers.

Indulge us for a moment. Both M&A and the Pack had a shaky start, but ended on a high note.

M&A activity totaled $3.06 trillion in value last year, the lowest in over a decade and a far cry from the $5.86 trillion in value seen in 2021, according to McKinsey research. But, a strong fourth quarter (activity was up 41% from Q3) gave reason for optimism this year, McKinsey experts said.

Jake Henry, senior partner at McKinsey and coleader of the firm’s M&A practice, told CFO Brew he bases his prediction for M&A market normalization on stabilizing interest rates and valuations, a cheerier macroeconomic outlook, and a “staggering” amount of dry powder, or private equity capital, that’s ready to be deployed.

Just how primed is the M&A market? Click here to find out.—AZ

In the world of retail, one word has resounded above all others this past year: profitability.

This concept has crystallized into three strategic imperatives essential for e-commerce businesses in our post-pandemic reality—and they’re all here in VTEX’s latest white paper, Three Investments to Drive Ecommerce Growth.

Jordan Jewell, former IDC analyst, sat down with dozens of e-commerce leaders and analysts to understand the key to not just growing an e-commerce business but growing it profitably.

Amid a changing e-commerce landscape, retailers face new challenges across consumer demands, digital ecosystem shifts, and economic fluctuations.

Tack on other harsh realities—like a 38% reduction in digital ad effectiveness, thanks to iOS 14.5 updates—and it’s clear that retailers need to rethink their approach to digital success.

We know. It’s a lot, but—breathe. VTEX’s white paper can help put you on track to profitable growth this year. Download it here.

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) went into effect Jan. 1. This means that many companies must now report to the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) information “about the individuals who ultimately own or control them,” as FinCEN puts it.

The new mandate is intended to catch bad actors who “seek to conceal their ownership of corporations, limited liability companies, or other similar entities in the [US] to facilitate illicit activity” such as money laundering, tax fraud, and terrorism financing, among other nefarious schemes, according to the law.

Criminals hiding—and benefitting from—ownership of US business entities “is a widely used tactic that affects national security and economic integrity,” according to the US Chamber of Commerce.

Who does this law cover, what must be disclosed, and who can access this information? With the CTA now the law of the land, companies must disclose to FinCEN information about their “beneficial owners,” including personal details like name, date of birth, home address, and a photograph, according to law firm Polsinelli.

Click here for more on how the Corporate Transparency Act works.—AZ

When Chris Cramer took over the blended CFO and COO role at teen accessories retailer Claire’s last November, it wasn’t his first rodeo.

For the last two decades, he’s made specialty retail something of a personal specialty: Cramer has served as CFO (and later COO) of Bath & Body Works, as well as president of Parade.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What advice do you have for aspiring CFOs or people who want to make the pivot from another role? How did you use your previous positions at other companies to prepare for the CFO role at Claire’s?

First and foremost, be open to experience. It doesn’t always have to be a linear path to get to where you want to go. And in some cases, a nonlinear path can really help prepare you and ensure that you’re even more ready for success when you get into that CFO role. In my case, that may have been things like, even when I was in finance, taking on some things that were maybe non-traditional finance tasks so that you can build partnerships around the business or learn in different areas.

For more on pivoting to CFO, click here.—NP

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