Ecosystem Thoughts

  1. Venture Capital-Backed M&A Exits

    Within our sector focus, venture-backed companies comprised half of the 40 M&A transactions whose value was between $25 million – $1 billion in Q2 2010.  This was up nicely from the first quarter in terms of the number of transactions and the median size increased to well above $130m.  The other good news was that the returns on investment showed good results.  Our analysis indicates that the median multiple of invested capital was 7.5x(a).  Quite respectable.

    A number of VCs had …

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    July 27, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments
  2. M&A Snapshot: Q2 2010

    M&A Snapshot: Q2 2010


    The overall M&A market within the rapidly converging internet, mobile and digital media sectors remains active yet completed transactions are still at only moderate levels.  Below is our at-a-glance M&A Snapshot for Q2.  We’ll continue further assessment and analysis over the coming weeks.





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    July 16, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments

  3. M&A Snapshot: Q2 Transactions

    Architect Partners tracked 372 M&A transactions  which took place in the 2nd quarter of 2010 within the converging internet, mobile and digital media sectors.  Of these, 40 had announced transaction value between $25 million and $1 billion.  We keep careful tabs on these transactions as many are venture backed and represent an attractive exit for venture investors.  Also of note, are transactions where transaction value was not announced but was almost certainly within that same range.  Below we summarize this …

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    July 12, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments

  4. M&A Snapshot: Notable Q2 Acquirers

    By our count, the number of announced M&A transactions within the internet, mobile and digital media sectors remained consistent with the first quarter of 2010.  Activity levels are reasonable although buyers continue to be deliberate and selective.  Over the course of the next couple of weeks we will be publishing a number of observations regarding recent M&A activity.

    Today’s assessment looks at the moves of the most active and notable acquirers.  Several important trends emerged:

    1) Google continues to be extraordinarily active, …

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    July 8, 2010 | Permalink | Comments Off

  5. Sonic Solutions Goes Mass Market

    We recently posted on Sonic Solution’s acquisition of Divx, on Google TV and on the various IETV (Internet-enabled TV, or OTT, over-the top TV) business and deployment models.

    In keeping with this theme, last week Sonic announced a major new agreement to digitally distribute movies and TV programming for Sears and Kmart.  Following Walmart’s acquisition …

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    June 29, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments
  6. The Proliferation of IP Video

    The Proliferation of IP Video

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    June 22, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments

  7. Motricity IPO – The IPO Market Remains Challenged

    Motricity priced their initial public offering (IPO) (final prospectus) this past Thursday evening with disappointing results. Motricity provides wireless carriers and large corporate customers a wide variety of white label mobile applications and related services. Applications include mobile storefronts and associated content management, mobile search and mobile marketing. Motricity generally hosts their applications on behalf of their customers and currently manages applications with over 35 million active users per month …

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    June 21, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments
  8. AP M&A Snapshot: Q1 2010 Theme: Voice is Just Another Application

    AP M&A Snapshot: Q1 2010 Theme: Voice is Just Another Application

    For sources of the above key developments, please click the following links:

    a) In-Stat b)Skype/Nokia c) Truphone d) iPhone/VoIP …

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    June 6, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments
  9. M&A Themes: Location Awareness

    M&A Themes: Location Awareness

    For sources of the above key developments, please click the following links:

    1) Fierce Mobile 2) TCS/NIM 3) Navteq/Acuity Mobile 4) Nokia/Dopplr …

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    May 25, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments
  10. ReachLocal & TeleNav IPOs

    ReachLocal & TeleNav IPOs

    The past week or so has been an important period to test the public market’s receptiveness to companies within the converging internet, mobile and digital media sectors. ReachLocal debuted last Thursday and TeleNav the previous Thursday.  Both suffered from a volatile stock market as they met with institutional investors. The good news is that both were completed, albeit at valuations discounted from their objectives.

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    May 24, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments