Semi-Organic Growth, + Website Tactics and Strategies Behind Google's Success

Semi-Organic Growth presents a unique analysis of Google's distinctive expertise in the area of mergers and acquisitions, derived from more than 150 acquisitions carried out over the company's short history. While organizational growth has traditionally been characterized as organic (internally generated) or inorganic (from acquisition), this book examines Google's semi-organic strategy for accelerating product and service revenue, explained through a unique sector/subsector classification scheme that dynamically maps the media, Internet, and technology platform markets. You'll gain insight into Google's disclosure strategies for private company transactions, and more importantly, their methods for integrating acquisitions into product and service offerings to achieve ecosystem synergy. Unique perspective reveals the lessons learned along the way from both successes and failures, and the companion website gives you access to the tools that help you implement what you've learned.

Google's extensive use of M&A as a growth strategy has been in sharp contrast to the practices of rivals like Apple, and further contrasts with the failures of many other companies in corporate business development. This book shows you the thinking behind the company's successful methods, and demonstrates the mechanisms behind the success.

• Learn why corporate M&A activity often fails to add value
• Delve deep into the complex dimensions of M&A integration
• Discover what Google has learned through specific deals
• Consider innovative integration methods that foster synergy

Google is an iconic, premiere company, and it didn't happen by accident. Their success is driven by their innovative approach to strategy in all areas, and their M&A expertise has been a major contributing factor. Semi-Organic Growth takes you through the core workings of Google M&A to provide insight into successful strategy for the modern market.

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 M&A Success and Failure 1

Chapter 2 Imprinting Semi-Organic Growth 17

Chapter 3 Google versus Apple: M&A Paths Diverge, then Converge 31

Chapter 4 M&A Market Modeling 45

Chapter 5 Google Media Deals 63

Chapter 6 Google Internet Deals 77

Chapter 7 Google Technology Platform Deals 91

Chapter 8 Failed or Shuttered Deals 105

Chapter 9 Disclosure versus Secrecy 119

Chapter 10 Forms of Consideration 133

Chapter 11 Contingent Consideration 147

Chapter 12 Dimensions of M&A Integration and Semi-Organic Growth 161

Chapter 13 Acqui-Hires Enhancing Google Offerings 177

Chapter 14 Competitive Deal Constellations and Ecosystem Synergy 197

References 211

About the Website 213

About the Author 215

Index 217

GEORGE T. GEIS teaches at UCLA Anderson in the areas of corporate business development and entrepreneurship. He has been voted Outstanding Teacher of the Year at UCLA Anderson five times. Currently, he is faculty director of Anderson’s Mergers and Acquisitions Executive program. Geis has also taught mergers and acquisitions at the Haas School, University of California, Berkeley.