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Hot: Google acquisition
Google is acquiring application virtualization company Cameyo.
The two companies previously partnered to bring Windows apps to ChromeOS.
The acquisition fits into Google’s push to make Chromebooks more attractive, giving users a more seamless option for accessing legacy applications without installation.
Partnerships are a key predictor of M&A. See where the competition is heading with CB Insights business relationship data.
Google’s acquisition is the third M&A deal by big tech so far this quarter, on top of Nvidia’s acquisitions of Deci AI and Run:ai.
The deal marks a small uptick in big tech M&A activity from previous quarters (more on that below).
At the time, we noted Microsoft was avoiding the kerfuffle of regulatory scrutiny.
Now the FTC is investigating whether Microsoft structured the $650M deal to avoid government antitrust review.
Microsoft (and all of big tech) face incredible regulatory scrutiny for M&A, especially in AI right now.
The FTC is reviewing the investments and partnerships of Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon, Anthropic, and Alphabet as part of a separate study announced in January.
The challenging regulatory climate has hobbled M&A activity.
Hot: Battery tech
The electric vehicle (EV) market is entering a new phase.
As automakers look to appeal to mainstream consumers this year, they’re taking a multi-faceted approach: diversifying EV lineups, reducing prices, and advancing battery/charging tech.
The No. 1 focus for auto leaders in 2024 so far — based on partnership, investment, and acquisition activity — is battery tech.
Notable events include:
Toyota’s acquisition of Primearth EV Energy, a manufacturer of EV batteries
BMW’s partnership with Albemarle to secure its battery-grade lithium supply
Porsche’s investment in Chemix, a generative AI-powered battery development platform
Dive deeper into each of these deals — and discover other top tech priorities for automakers in 2024 — in this research brief.
Not: Cyberattacks in healthcare
Lab services provider Synnovis was recently hit by a ransomware attack.
It has disrupted critical operations, like blood transfusions, at several hospitals in London.
This marks the third attack against Synlab (Synnovis’ parent company) in the last year — and similar incidents have impacted healthcare providers across the globe.
This trend could worsen as AI advances, but cybersecurity cos are also finding ways to use genAI to counter attacks.
