M&A Ecosystem Synergy: Much More than Sum of Parts

We’ve heard about M&A synergy, the notion (all too often fanciful) that the value of combined enterprises will exceed the sum of their individual values. Revenue synergies are anticipated top-line enhancements that will come from use of the acquirer’s superior distribution capability, or cross-selling of companies’ products, or effective integration across an industry value chain. Or, or, or… The list of possible revenue synergies is long.  Sometimes such synergies are real; often they are optimistically imaginative.

Cost synergies (such as head-count reduction from redundant overhead) are more in control of the acquirer. And these synergies tend to be more believable by Wall Street.

In any case, synergy can be represented by the equation V(A + T) > V(A) + V(T), where V(A) is the value of the Acquirer and V(T) is the value of the Target.

But consider what can be a potentially richer form of M&A synergy. Research findings suggest that initiation of a series of acquisitions as part of a strategic M&A program is associated with value creation for buyers. I believe this is especially true where ecosystem synergy can be realized.
Ecosystem synergy exists where target acquisitions have synergy with each other and not only with the acquirer. In other words, V(A + T1+ T2) > V(A+T1) + V(A+T2), where A stands for the Acquirer, and T1 and T2 stand for distinct Targets that have synergies with each other in addition to potential synergies with Acquirer.

Consider an example. Google has engaged in a series of advertising-related acquisitions that have helped the company cover the entire value chain of advertising. These acquisitions include Invite Media, DoubleClick, Admeld, and AdMob.

In the Internet world, ads typically start with the advertiser and go through an ad agency to a demand side platform (Invite Media), then to ad exchange (DoubleClick), then to supply side platform (Admeld), finally reaching users through services such as YouTube. In addition, the AdMob acquisition gives Google one of the largest mobile advertising networks. Google plans to integrate the AdMob network with DoubleClick's ad tools to ultimately operate a single platform across multiple devices. This is an excellent example of ecosystem synergy -- where target acquisitions enjoy synergy with each other and not only with the acquirer.

For more information on this constellation of deals, see http://www.trivergence.com/market.asp?MarketID=4107.

Research support provided by Debadutta Bhattacharyya and Ahreum Hong.