Michael Kors will purchase Versace for $2.1 billion as part of a plan to build a luxury fashion empire. After the deal closes, Michael Kors will change its name to Capri Holdings and have 18,000 employees worldwide. While you may (or may not) be a fashionista, here are three lessons any strategic acquirer can learn …
Tag: future demand
Intel Acquires eASIC to Expand Beyond Declining CPU Chip Market
Intel has acquired eASIC, a small company specializing in customizable chips in order to diversify beyond CPU chips that are used primarily in personal computers. As consumers move more and more to using mobile phones over personal computers, demand for Intel’s base product, CPU chips, is declining. eASIC’s 120 employees will join Intel’s programmable solutions group, …
AT&T – Time Warner Deal Gets Green Light, Expect More Media Deals
On Tuesday AT&T and Time Warner received approval for their $85 billion merger that brings together channels like CNN, HBO with the number two mobile carrier in the US. The deal is just the start of what is shaping up to be a very busy year for technology and media mergers and acquisitions. Less than …
Nestle Slims Down, Sells US Chocolate Business – 3 Lessons for You
Nestle is selling its US chocolate business, which includes brands such as BabyRuth, Butterfinger, and Crunch to Ferrero for $2.8 billion. The deal is part of Nestle’s strategy to sell underperforming brands and refocus on healthier products and fast-growing markets. Nestle recently acquired vitamin maker Altrium Innovations for $2.3 billion and is rumored to be …
Hershey, Campbell Acquire Healthy Snack Brands to Follow Customer Demand
Customers are one of the strongest forces affecting your business today and in the future. Your company’s long-term success depends on their sustained demand for your products and services for years to come. Two recent acquisitions demonstrate the strong pull of customer demand in shaping company success. In the past week both Hershey and Campbell …
Mars Makes Minority Investment in Healthy Snack Maker Kind
Sugar is not so sweet anymore. Blamed for making people sick and causing obesity, consumers are turning to healthier options and governments are trying to curb sugar consumption. Faced with these market dynamics, Mars recently announced it has made a minority investment in Kind Snacks. Kind’s products are made without artificial ingredients and include bars, …
Ikea Buys Freelance Platform TaskRabbit so You’ll Never Have to Assemble Their Furniture Again
If you have ever purchased Ikea furniture, you understand the struggle of trying to assemble it. The “simple” diagrams are not easy to follow, some of the screws or nails go missing, and sometimes the piece falls apart after you finish building it. Ikea is hoping to solve this problem for future buyers with its …
Nestlé Bets on Fast Growing Markets with Sweet Earth and Blue Bottle Coffee Deals
Nestlé is scooping up two brands in fast growing markets to expand its product offerings in North America. The Swiss company will acquire Sweet Earth, a maker of plant-based foods, as consumer demand for natural, organic and healthy food grows. Nestle expects the market to reach $5.21 billion by 2020. Based in Moss Landing, California, …
Fujifilm to Use Acquisitions to Grow Beyond Shrinking Film Market
Can you remember the last time you had film developed? My guess is that it’s been a long time for most of you. Digital cameras, first introduced in the 1980s, have surpassed traditional film cameras in popularity. Kodak, once the dominant player in photography, failed to transition from analog to digital and went bankrupt in …
Deere Acquires Construction Equipment Company to Combat Falling Sales
Deere plans to acquire German road construction company Wirtgen Group for $4.88 billion in order to expand its road construction operations and reduce its dependence on farm equipment. Wirtgen’s products span the entire road construction sector including milling, processing, mixing, paving, compaction and rehabilitation. Deere, most famous for its John Deere tractors, is heavily reliant …
