The first quarter of 2014 closed on a positive note for M&A with large transactions driving deal confidence. Click on the graphic for a closer look at M&A highlights from Q1 2014. Feature Photo Credit: dannymac15_1999 via Compfight cc
Tag: M&A News
In Facebook – WhatsApp Deal Strategy Trumps Numbers
Facebook announced it will buy WhatsApp for $19 billion on February 19, 2014. There is no way that I can, in any credible means, justify or explain the purchase price because it’s absurd in my opinion. WhatsApp has no advertising revenues and charges each of its 450 million active users a yearly fee of just …
The Greatest Hurdle Facing Tech Mergers
The biggest tech M&A disasters were the Time Warner-AOL $350 billion merger and Google’s $12.3 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. In my observations, the greatest hurdle facing tech mergers is integration. Even where the strategy of the acquisition is solid, if the integration of the two workforces and assets is not executed properly, it will fail. Even …
Top 5 Strategic Drivers of Oil and Gas M&A
Mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry oscillated from a high of $84.8 billion in the first half of 2012 to just $51.5 billion in the first half of 2013. The total deal value for Q2 2013 was $23.6 billion, the lowest since Q3 2009. Expect a new swing given the rumors that …
China’s Rising Investment in the U.S.
Capstone recently was invited to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)’s Chinese Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) Delegation Seminar to present on M&A opportunities for Chinese companies in Virginia. There are many opportunities for investment; see some of the latest trends in the chart below. China’s inbound and outbound M&A activity has been rising, with 47% …
Recent Deals: Berkshire Hathaway & 3G Capital Buy Heinz, Office Depot-Office Max Merger
Recently, there have been some fairly significant transactions, and I want to mention these and tell you what they may mean for corporate executives. The first deal we have is Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital acquiring Heinz for $23.2 billion. Really, if you include debt, that transaction looks to be just under a $30 billion …
Strategy: US Airways and American Airlines
The $11 billion merger between US Airways and American Airlines offers a striking example of current trends in mergers and acquisitions: strategic acquisitions. The US Airways and American Airlines merger is an all-stock deal that should bring cost benefits and synergies which allow the company to better handle fixed assets. In order to remain viable …
“Go-Shop Clause”
Edelman Financial Group agreed to sell their business for $258 million which is reported to be a 43% premium over their stock price. The interesting thing is the agreement includes a 40 day “go-shop clause” where the company can seek higher bids. I have been talking about these provisions for several years and expect you’ll …
Monkey See, Monkey Do
While visiting my brother’s family and partaking in a delicious cupcake during my niece’s one year milestone birthday celebration, I had a valuation thought…she was doing what most kids at that age do: copying the older kids’ movements. Waving, smiling, stuffing cake in her face and, of course, throwing everything. Adults, some very experienced, tend …
Why is Fortis Acquiring CH Energy?
Fortis, Inc (TSX: FTS), a Canadian utility company, announced yesterday that it is acquiring CH Energy Group (NYSE: CHG) for $1B in cash plus the assumption of $500K in debt, which is about 10x 2011 EBITDA. CH Energy, which is a public utility headquartered in Poughkeepsie, NY, said this about the benefits of the acquisition: …
