One of the main purposes of Strategic Management, especially in Mergers & Acquisitions (Chapter 8 and earlier chapters Chapter 3 and 4),is to build synergy between the two companies: "Synergyoccurs when organizational parts interact to produce a joint effect that is greater than the sum of its parts acting alone.The organization may attain a special advantage with respect to cost, market power, technology, or management skill.When properly managed, synergy can bring additional value with existing resources, providing a big boost to the bottom line."

"Competitive advantagerefers to what sets the organization apart from others and provides it with a distinctive edge in the marketplace.The essence of formulating strategy is choosing how the organization will be different.To remain competitive, companies develop strategies that focus on targeting specific customers, core competencies, provide synergy, and make value for customers."

Based on your knowledge of the following companies, how effective would you say any one of the following acquisitions were in terms of creating synergy and competitive advantage? Choose at least 1 case/acquisition from the list below as part of your discussion. Has COVID-19 affected any of these acquisitions?

a) Case 1: Google's acquisition of YouTube?

b) Case 2: PepsiCo's acquisition of Frito-Lay?

c) Case 3:InBev's acquisition of Anheuser Buch?

d) Case 4: LVMH's acquisitionof Tiffany & Co