The hottest Acquisitions Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Finance Topics

Ning Gaoning on How Sinochem bought Syngenta

Pekingnology • 30 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
💼 Business Mergers Acquisitions Corporate strategy Finance Global Markets
  1. Ning Gaoning played a key role in significant mergers and acquisitions in China. His leadership at major companies helped shape the chemical industry in the country.
  2. The acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina was the largest overseas buy by a Chinese company, costing over $43 billion. This move aimed to upgrade China's agricultural technology and meet international standards.
  3. Financing large acquisitions is complex and required careful planning. ChemChina successfully collaborated with Sinochem to secure funding through a combination of loans and bonds for the Syngenta deal.

Taking Responsibility Without Sliding Into Shame

Suzan's Fieldnotes • 78 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership Mistakes Responsibility Acquisitions Podcasts
  1. Making mistakes is normal and can strain relationships, but how we address them matters most.
  2. Shame is harmful and can hinder the process of repairing relationships and rebuilding trust.
  3. Leaders should take responsibility for their actions without succumbing to shame, fostering vulnerability and strengthening connections.
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Revise and resubmit

SuperJoost Playlist • 79 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
💼 Business Acquisitions Market Trends Gaming Industry
  1. Microsoft has submitted a revised proposal to buy Activision Blizzard to address concerns from the UK's competition regulator.
  2. Ubisoft has secured cloud gaming rights to Activision titles from Microsoft, potentially impacting the gaming market.
  3. There is a shift in the European games market dynamics due to financial challenges facing major game makers like Embracer.

dbt Labs acquires Transform - who's next?

Data Thoughts • 119 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
💼 Business Data science Analytics Acquisitions Market Trends Technology
  1. dbt Labs has bought Transform, and more companies in the data field might be sold or closed soon. This could lead to big changes in the industry.
  2. Data teams are seen as a 2nd order need for businesses, meaning they aren't absolutely necessary. Companies may cut these teams first when they need to save money.
  3. To get the best value from tools, data practitioners should focus on essential needs rather than extra features. This means keeping an eye on what really matters in the data ecosystem.

Codiga: How it Ended

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Acquisitions Product Development Personal Growth
  1. The author reflects on building Codiga, a small company that developed a code analysis product. Initially, they turned down an acquisition offer but later realized it was a good opportunity for both themselves and their team.
  2. Obsession and hard work are key traits for entrepreneurs. Being passionate about your product helps create something unique and successful.
  3. The journey of building a company can come with personal sacrifices. The author learned the importance of maintaining relationships and handling criticism, and ultimately feels proud of their accomplishments.

5 famous company pivots.

Jon’s Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 18 Sep 22
💼 Business Startups Company strategy Entrepreneurship Market Trends Acquisitions
  1. Instagram started as a check-in app but became popular for sharing photos. This change led Facebook to buy it for $1 billion.
  2. YouTube began as a dating site where users uploaded videos about their ideal partners. It quickly turned into a video-sharing platform, and Google bought it for $1.65 billion.
  3. Slack's founders shifted from making online games to developing a communication tool. This pivot resulted in a $27.7 billion acquisition by Salesforce.

AI Roundup 058: Devin and SIMA

Artificial Ignorance • 42 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Governance Bioweapons Acquisitions
  1. Capable autonomous agents are an upcoming frontier in AI, with Devin showcasing potential in software development and SIMA displaying versatility in video games.
  2. OpenAI's board expands with new members, and the company makes strides in partnerships and technology development.
  3. Global concerns arise around the use of AI for bioweapons, leading to agreements to prevent misuse, alongside AI-related vulnerabilities and challenges in AI governance.

A Groundbreaking Week of AI Collaboration

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Analytics Partnerships Startups Acquisitions
  1. Many big companies are teaming up or buying each other to improve their AI skills. These moves help them stay strong in the AI market.
  2. NVIDIA recently bought a startup called OmniML that focuses on making smaller and quicker AI models. This could lead to new AI technology for cars and robots.
  3. The AI industry is rapidly changing with new partnerships and innovations. Companies are working hard to create better AI tools and applications.

Can AMD beat Nvidia in the AI Race?

Golden Pineapple • 31 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Acquisitions Semiconductors Data Analysis Software
  1. Nvidia has been a market leader with high-performance chips for GPT models, positioning them well in the AI competition.
  2. AMD is making strategic moves in AI, such as diversifying into software through acquisitions like Nod AI, to challenge Nvidia's dominance.
  3. Both Nvidia and AMD are eyeing potential acquisitions in AI-related sectors, with AMD's recent chip advancements showing promise in the competition.

Here's What Happened; Reddit IPO, Walmart-AdTech Revolution & New Marketing Guides

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing Advertising E-commerce Acquisitions
  1. Recent updates include Reddit's IPO details, Meta expanding Creator Marketplace, and Walmart's acquisition of VIZIO to boost AdTech.
  2. Pinterest's unique B2B campaign mix, X offering new features for non-premium users, and TikTok's global advancements are trending in the marketing world.
  3. Various agencies are making significant moves, like Build-A-Bear naming KNOWN as its Agency of Record and Mod Op acquiring Red Tettemer O'Connell+Partners.

Unprecedented Boom in Data Analytics & AI M&A

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
💼 Business Mergers Acquisitions Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence Technology
  1. There has been a big increase in companies buying up data analytics and AI businesses recently. Over 25 acquisitions happened this year, which is a lot more than the 15 last year.
  2. Major companies like Accenture, IBM, and Snowflake are very active in this space. Accenture alone spent about $2.5 billion on 25 acquisitions to boost its AI and analytics services.
  3. These acquisitions help companies improve their tech capabilities, like inventory management and engineering, making them more efficient and innovative.

Google and Adobe go on a shopping Spree [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 17 Sep 22
💼 Business Tech Finance Acquisitions Investing Startups
  1. Companies like Google and Adobe are still investing in valuable acquisitions even during a tech crash, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on building valuable products.
  2. Big money acquisitions like Google's Mandiant and Adobe's Figma prove that focusing on quality over short-term gains can lead to significant success in the long run.
  3. Being able to identify valuable companies early can be financially rewarding, emphasizing the importance of developing expertise in specific domains and staying informed through diverse sources.

If you get a takeover offer, fight

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
💼 Business Investing Mergers Acquisitions Finance Market Analysis
  1. If a company gets a takeover offer, they should consider negotiating instead of accepting it right away. There's a good chance they can get a better deal.
  2. Research shows that most takeover deals do not fail and often result in the target company receiving more favorable terms. About 80% of modified deals end up giving more money to the selling company.
  3. Overall, companies approached for a takeover have a 94% chance of either keeping the original offer or getting a better one by negotiating.

Illumina: Icahn Drops "Helix" Bombshell

Nongaap Investing • 27 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
💰 Finance Investing Lawsuit Acquisitions Insider trading
  1. Carl Icahn made a significant allegation involving Helix funding GRAIL in a lawsuit against Illumina.
  2. Icahn is suing to uncover undisclosed motives behind Illumina's GRAIL acquisition, anticipating major board changes.
  3. Understanding the connection between Helix and GRAIL is crucial due to potential undisclosed stakes and the involvement of multiple companies like Biogen.

The Data Science Education Consolidation

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 06 Jun 22
🚌 Education EdTech Data science Training Acquisitions
  1. Edtech companies like BYJU'S and upGrad are buying smaller firms to strengthen their position in data science education. This shows a trend of growth and consolidation in the industry.
  2. Traditional training institutions like NIIT and Aptech are struggling to keep up with these changes. They seem to be losing relevance in the fast-paced education market.
  3. BYJU'S made a big impact last year by acquiring ten companies for $2.5 billion. This highlights the scale of investment happening in the education sector, particularly in data science.

Are we in the early innings of an AI M&A spree?

Entry Level Investing • 16 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
💼 Business AI M&A Technology Acquisitions
  1. Recent high-profile AI acquisitions suggest a growing trend in M&A activity in the AI space.
  2. Large horizontal technology platforms are likely to be key players in acquiring AI startups due to their access to cash and existing distribution advantages.
  3. Companies like Apple, Amazon, Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe, and Snowflake are potential contenders for making significant AI acquisitions in the coming months.

Creating Pricing Power through M&A

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
💼 Business Mergers Acquisitions Pricing Strategy SaaS Market Trends
  1. SaaS companies can use acquisitions to improve their products, which lets them raise prices confidently by adding new features.
  2. Acquisitions help expand a company's offerings into a platform, allowing them to bundle products and sell them together more effectively.
  3. By acquiring diverse companies, a SaaS leader can use extreme discounting to win competitive deals, making it easier to attract new customers.

Issue #101: Capital One To Buy Discover For $35.3b, Monzo Eyes £4b Valuation, And FairMoney In Talks To Buy Umba

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Fintech Investments Acquisitions Startups Compliance
  1. Capital One's acquisition of Discover for $35.3 billion aims to boost competitiveness in the payments network but may face regulatory challenges due to concerns about bank consolidation.
  2. Monzo's potential £4 billion valuation in a funding round signifies ongoing investor interest in neobanks adapting to profitability and growth in the consumer fintech market.
  3. FairMoney's talks to buy Umba in a $20 million deal show a trend of consolidation in fintech markets like Africa, where companies navigate challenges to serve a growing demand for digital financial services.

Issue #98: Apple Card Tops 12m Users, Ramp Announces An Acquisition, And Mastercard Launches A Gen AI Tool

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Acquisitions
  1. Apple Card has over 12 million users and provided $1 billion in cashback rewards last year, showing challenges in acquiring users for embedded financial services.
  2. Fintech Ramp's acquisition of Venue highlights the competition in SMB banking to be a central hub for financial operations.
  3. Mastercard introduces Decision Intelligence Pro, using Gen AI to enhance transaction risk assessment, indicating the potential for Gen AI in compliance within the fintech sector.

Swiss Government Forces UBS to Merge With Credit Suisse, Shareholders Have 0% Say So - UBS Combined Assets to Around $5 Trillion

The Tweetsift Report • 3 HN points • 20 Mar 23
💼 Business Finance Mergers Acquisitions Regulations Investment Banking
  1. Swiss government forced UBS and Credit Suisse merger without shareholder consent
  2. UBS expects the merger to create a powerful asset management entity with cost-cutting plans
  3. The combined entity will focus on sustainable value for shareholders and strategic growth

Issue #85: Goldman Sachs Regrets The Apple Card, The CFPB Proposes A s1033 Uplift, And Australia Outlines A Licensing Regime for Crypto Exchanges

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
💰 Finance Regulation Acquisitions Funding Startups Partnerships
  1. CFPB is proposing a rule to accelerate the shift towards open banking for consumer data control and protection.
  2. Australia is planning to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges by requiring them to hold financial licenses.
  3. Goldman Sachs is regretting its Apple Card partnership due to financial challenges and is considering exiting consumer lending.

💰 SaaS Watch #1 (Feb 13, 2024)

SaaS Watch • 1 HN point • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business SaaS Acquisitions Startups Entrepreneurship Technology
  1. SaaS Watch curates micro SaaS acquisition opportunities priced between $0 to $100k weekly, making it easier for everyday people to find potential investments.
  2. The newsletter is considered an MVP, and if validated, the plan is to expand sources and improve the data provided to subscribers.
  3. Various SaaS opportunities are listed in different price ranges, from $0-$1k to $50k-$100k, catering to different investment budgets and interests.