Middle market M&A rose in October and dealmakers expect robust activity for the remainder of 2016, according to a survey by Mergers & Acquisitions. Survey participants expect more companies will be inclined to execute deals once the uncertainty of the U.S. presidential election has passed. Overall M&A in 2016 has dropped significantly when compared to …
Category: M&A in the News
Firms Use Acquisition to Stay Ahead of the Curve
Are you keeping up with industry changes fast enough? Or are you being left behind? It’s no secret that technology is disrupting industries from manufacturing to telecommunications to retail. “…The risk of being left behind because of technological disruption and change is driving companies to make acquisitions faster,” Steven Davidoff Solomon writes in Dealbook. For many …
Content Is King: AT&T to Acquire Time Warner
Seeking growth amid a shifting telecommunications industry, AT&T has bet on media content. The company plans to acquire Time Warner for $85 billion in one of the biggest media acquisitions in history. The transaction will likely take over a year to receive regulatory approval, but both AT&T and Time Warner executives are optimistic. AT&T CEO Randall …
Marriott Begins Integrating Loyalty Programs
Just this Sunday, I received an email about the Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Marriott Rewards combining with Starwood Preferred Guest. According to the email and Marriott’s website, the three loyalty programs will be linked, but operate as independent programs. Marriott does not expect to merge the programs any time before 2018. Marriott International first announced it …
Yahoo Cyberattack Highlights Need for Functional Due Diligence in M&A
Yahoo says the private information of at least 500 million has been compromised due to a cyber-attack in 2014. In the biggest security breach to date, hackers gained access to sensitive information including names, emails addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, passwords, and security questions. The security breach has ramifications not just for Yahoo and its …
Ford Acquires Chariot, Repositions as Mobility Company
Ford announced it would acquire Chariot, a shuttle-van startup based in San Francisco, in order to expand beyond auto manufacturing and become a mobility company. This is the first acquisition by Ford Smart Mobility, which was established in March of 2016 in order to focus on “emerging mobility services.” Ford reportedly paid $65 million for …
Credit Union – Bank Mergers on the Rise
The credit union industry is evolving. While many credit unions are consolidating through credit union mergers, others are seizing creative opportunities such as adopting cloud technology to improve efficiencies, focusing on underserved markets, and using partnerships and strategic mergers and acquisitions to grow and bring value to members. One interesting trend to note is credit …
Launching the New M&A Growth Bulletin
I am excited to announce the launch of our new quarterly newsletter, The M&A Growth Bulletin. This newsletter will deliver essential guidance on growth through M&A along with tips and tactics drawn directly from successful transactions completed in the market. In the first issue of The M&A Growth Bulletin, we will address five common objections leaders …
Walmart Acquires Jet.com: Integration Strategies for Buyers
Walmart will acquire web retailer Jet.com for $3.3 billion in order to boost its online business. The deal is the largest ever purchase of U.S. e-commerce startup. While Walmart has plenty of bricks and mortar stores, the company has struggled to grow its online business. Walmart knows it needs to be competitive with Amazon who …
Why Unilever Paid $1 Billion for Unprofitable Dollar Shave Club
Unilever purchased Dollar Shave Club, a startup that sells razors and grooming products to men, for $1 billion. That price may seem absurd for a company that is not yet profitable, however Dollar Shave club is growing quickly. The company’s revenue is expected to jump from $152 million in 2015 to $200 million in 2016. Dollar …
