The hottest Mergers Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics
BIG by Matt Stoller 34149 implied HN points 21 Feb 24
  1. The Kroger-Albertsons merger faces challenges due to potential criminal activity discovered, leading to antitrust suits and trials to block the deal.
  2. The merger could worsen the grocery market situation with fewer stores, higher prices, and data implications for suppliers, consumers, and workers.
  3. Evidence found of Kroger and Albertsons colluding in wage suppression by avoiding hiring each other's workers, raising concerns and prompting legal action.
BIG by Matt Stoller 20856 implied HN points 14 Feb 24
  1. The oil and gas industry is going through a significant wave of consolidation, with mega-mergers happening between major companies.
  2. The mergers and acquisitions in the industry are driven by challenges in increasing production, high finance strategies, and the desire to showcase access to reserves to investors.
  3. The consolidation will likely lead to squeezed suppliers, reduced innovation, and a shift of industry power from domestic firms to global entities.
In My Tribe 394 implied HN points 13 Mar 24
  1. In the realm of machine learning, size isn't everything. Intelligence is seen as a continuous process, not just about having the largest model.
  2. Rather than betting on one ultimate model, the future may hold multiple specialized uses for machine learning, like in medicine where different applications can thrive.
  3. Building specific applications in machine learning could be more successful than pursuing a one-size-fits-all approach, as seen in historical business scenarios.
Off to Lunch 687 implied HN points 07 Feb 24
  1. Barratt Developments is acquiring Redrow in a £2.5 billion deal, creating the largest housebuilder in the UK
  2. The all-share deal values Redrow's shares at a 27% premium, with Barratt shareholders owning 67.2% of the new company
  3. The merger expects to save up to £90 million in annual costs and position Redrow as the premium housing brand within the group
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:
Liberty’s Highlights 884 implied HN points 10 Jan 24
  1. The market often surprises people and goes through cycles of confusion and growth.
  2. US recessions have been less frequent, signifying stability, but opportunities for growth still exist.
  3. Merger talks and developments in companies like Synopsys, Ansys, Nvidia, and Intel show shifts in technology landscapes.
The Last Bear Standing 47 implied HN points 23 Feb 24
  1. Capital One is acquiring Discover Financial Services, creating the largest vertically integrated card provider and the sixth largest U.S. bank by deposits.
  2. Both Capital One and Discover have seen a rise in bad credit among their subprime borrowers in the past two years.
  3. Consumer credit quality has been deteriorating sharply as pandemic savings decrease, interest rates rise, but consumer spending remains high.
Net Interest 7 implied HN points 15 Mar 24
  1. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the UK government allowed a significant bank merger to ensure financial stability despite concerns about competition.
  2. The idea of promoting competition through challenger banks was embraced but has struggled to reduce the dominance of the Big Four banks in the UK.
  3. Despite efforts to increase competition, mergers between existing players, like Virgin Money and Nationwide, have become a significant strategy to challenge the Big Four banks.
The Counterbalance 137 implied HN points 28 Apr 23
  1. The UK's decision to block the Microsoft / Activision merger shows courage and defends against concentrated economic power.
  2. The UK's action signifies a global shift against the dominance of digital tech giants post-Brexit.
  3. Blocking the merger protects UK citizens, businesses, and consumers while promoting a more resilient economy.
Exponential Industry 39 implied HN points 07 Jun 23
  1. 3D printing companies have significant business overlap due to the small industry size.
  2. 3D printer manufacturers have struggled in public markets, with high costs per part compared to other manufacturing methods.
  3. The hope for 3D printer companies lies in continual mergers to reduce costs until printing technology enables a declining per-unit cost curve.
Startupology 19 implied HN points 03 Jul 23
  1. Vodafone and Three UK plan to merge to become the largest mobile operator in the UK.
  2. Merging may reduce prices for consumers but also raise concerns about market competition.
  3. Regulators will play a critical role in deciding if the merger is beneficial for customers or not.
The Intersection 19 implied HN points 27 Mar 23
  1. When considering rebranding, it is essential to have a clear trigger such as a change in the business direction or a product update for successful outcomes.
  2. Rebranding efforts should not be triggered by superficial reasons like a new CEO or CMO, but rather by substantial changes in the company's core.
  3. A successful rebranding requires a thoughtful integration with the product or service, not just a surface-level change for the sake of change.