Tag: FTC

The U.K. Blocking MSFT’s Proposed Activision Deal

The U.K. Blocking MSFT’s Proposed Activision Deal

Whether it is the FTC or Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), I believe these Government agencies often block proposed mergers and acquisitions simply to justify their existence. They are government agencies after all and require taxpayer funds (or printed money) to survive. The CMA's MSFT decision adds zero value, will hinder innovation, and demonstrates … Continue reading The U.K. Blocking MSFT’s Proposed Activision Deal

Powering The Bundle: What Streaming Services Can Learn From Enterprise Software

Powering The Bundle: What Streaming Services Can Learn From Enterprise Software

Enterprise Software companies know that it is imperative to add features and functionality in order to justify price increases. It is time for streaming services to learn that lesson. What can streaming services learn from the Enterprise Software industry? One important lesson is that Software companies that genuinely care about their customers add value in … Continue reading Powering The Bundle: What Streaming Services Can Learn From Enterprise Software

Apple + Disney

Apple + Disney

We have previously written that it would make sense for Apple (AAPL) to acquire Disney (DIS). Apple and Disney could certainly hold informal talks now, but a letter of intent, formal due diligence and the purchase agreement negotiation would all have to wait until there is a new Administration in the White House in my … Continue reading Apple + Disney

The Big 3 Cloud Giants Are Poised To Drive M&A

The Big 3 Cloud Giants Are Poised To Drive M&A

AWS, Azure and Google Cloud are poised to drive vertical M&A for years to come. By vertical M&A we refer to M&A transactions that would enable to AWS, Azure and Google Cloud to build a footprint at the application layer across various industry verticals. The obvious acquisition targets would be customers and partners of AWS, … Continue reading The Big 3 Cloud Giants Are Poised To Drive M&A

The FTC Is Making M&A More Difficult

The FTC Is Making M&A More Difficult

As we predicted new FTC Chair Lina Khan is making it increasingly difficult for firms to execute M&A transactions. Recently the FTC rolled out new policy changes that provide the agency with veto power over a given company’s future M&A transactions once that company attempts an anticompetitive (as defined by the FTC) merger or acquisition. … Continue reading The FTC Is Making M&A More Difficult

Big Tech Firms Will Find It More Difficult To Execute M&A

Big Tech Firms Will Find It More Difficult To Execute M&A

Tickers mentioned: Alphabet (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Facebook (FB), Microsoft (MSFT) In May we wrote about Amazon potentially acquiring MGM. That deal was subsequently announced and will be reviewed by the FTC (per the WSJ) under new FTC Chair Lina Khan. We recently mentioned Ms. Khan as being tough on Big Tech. The FTC's … Continue reading Big Tech Firms Will Find It More Difficult To Execute M&A

High Debt Levels and Negative M&A Bias Are Crowding Out Innovation

High Debt Levels and Negative M&A Bias Are Crowding Out Innovation

An effective recipe for crowding out innovation consists of companies taking on massive amounts of leverage coupled with a Federal Government that has a negative bias toward mergers and acquisitions. We are experiencing this phenomenon now with corporate debt & loans at approximately 56% of GDP (as of Q2, chart below) and a DOJ that … Continue reading High Debt Levels and Negative M&A Bias Are Crowding Out Innovation

Checkmate. Facebook Wins.

Checkmate. Facebook Wins.

FTC slaps Facebook on the wrist and levies $5B fine. Combining legacy Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. A grand product strategy or slick tactical move to avert regulators? Facebook only found religion as it relates to user privacy after the FTC threatened to break up the company into three separate entities - 1) legacy Facebook, 2) … Continue reading Checkmate. Facebook Wins.