IoT 2016 Merger & Acquisition Activity Off to a Fast Start;

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Strategy Analytics new Report "IoT 2016 Merger and Acquisition (M&A)  Activity Accelerates" finds that there were nearly two dozen major mergers and acquisitions in the Internet of Things (IoT) and related market segments including Big Data Analytics, connectivity and wireless markets in the first four months of 2016. 

Strategy Analytics research indicates the 2016 M&A activity may eclipse the pace set in 2015, which was a record breaking year both in terms of the number and value of acquisitions. "At the end of 2010, there were a scant one dozen acquisitions in the then fledgling IoT market. By the end of 2015, SA estimates there were 81 mergers and acquisitions; that is a nearly seven-fold increase in five years," noted Laura DiDio, SA's Director of IoT Research and author of the Report.

"Also notable is the increase in the worth of the companies being acquired," said Andrew Brown, Executive Director of the IoT Strategies Service.  While vendors are still acquiring companies for $50, $100 and $200 million (US dollars), billion dollar acquisitions, such as Cisco's $1.4 billion purchase of Jasper Technologies IoT services' platform in February and even multi-billion deals – are no longer rarities.

Strategy Analytics M&A Report indicates the most desirable acquisition targets are companies whose core competencies revolve around analytics, security, connectivity platform capabilities and services. And within those product categories IoT vendors are especially eager to acquire companies in hot vertical segments including: Automotive, Consumer wearables, Healthcare, Industrial IoT (IIoT), Manufacturing, Retail, Smart Home, Transportation and Weather.

The Strategy Analytics M&A Report concludes that well targeted and executed IoT M&As will  provide vendors with immediate tactical and strategic opportunities to gain market share, increase their customer base, boost revenues and advance IoT goals and increase influence. A focused M&A has the added benefit of consolidating the industry and reducing the number of competitors.  

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