A serial acquirer is a company that pursues a strategy of growth mainly through repeated mergers and acquisitions rather than relying solely on organic growth.[ Umbrex. "Serial Acquirer." Private Equity Glossary] This approach is often associated with long-term "buy-and-build" or "roll-up" strategies, where numerous acquisitions are integrated into a larger operating platform.
Characteristics
Serial acquirers typically share several features:
Notable examples
Several publicly traded companies are frequently cited as examples of successful serial acquirers:
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Constellation Software
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Berkshire Hathaway
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Danaher Corporation
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TransDigm Group
Criticism and risks
While serial acquisition strategies can generate significant growth, critics highlight risks including:
[PIE Lab. "The Compounding Kings: How Serial Acquirers Turn Small Investments into Big Returns." (2023). [3]]
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Integration challenges across multiple acquired businesses
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Potential overpayment or misallocation of capital
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Reliance on favorable credit markets to finance acquisitions
See also