Types of M&A: Horizontal, Vertical & Conglomerate

Corporate Finance Fundamentals · 4:17

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When companies want to grow and expand
They look for deals across the land
Three different ways to make their move
Each strategy has something to prove
Same industry or different field
The type of merger determines the yield

[Chorus]
Horizontal side by side, competitors collide
Vertical up and down the chain, suppliers in the game
Conglomerate spreads it wide, different worlds they unite
Three types of M and A, remember them this way

[Verse 2]
Horizontal means you buy your rival
Same business, same survival
Coca Cola buys Pepsi's brand
Two soft drink giants join their hands
Market share gets bigger fast
Competition shrinking at last

[Chorus]
Horizontal side by side, competitors collide
Vertical up and down the chain, suppliers in the game
Conglomerate spreads it wide, different worlds they unite
Three types of M and A, remember them this way

[Verse 3]
Vertical moves along the line
From raw materials to retail fine
Apple buying chip suppliers
Moving up or down requires
Control of production from start to end
On supply chain you depend

[Chorus]
Horizontal side by side, competitors collide
Vertical up and down the chain, suppliers in the game
Conglomerate spreads it wide, different worlds they unite
Three types of M and A, remember them this way

[Bridge]
Conglomerate's the wildcard play
Different industries every day
Disney buying ESPN sports
Mixing movies with all sorts
Diversification is the goal
Playing each different role

[Final Chorus]
Horizontal side by side, same industry pride
Vertical up and down the chain, control the whole game
Conglomerate spreads it wide, risk is diversified
Three types of M and A, now you know the way

[Outro]
Remember H V C
Horizontal Vertical Conglomerate spree
The building blocks of merger strategy

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