Mergers – the Cisco system: Secrets of US computer giant’s success

Mergers and acquisitions are an established feature of business life. They enable companies to increase market share through product or service synergies or to expand into new markets by buying leading players. In 2002 alone there were 4,363 mergers and acquisitions worth $292 billion with nearly half that value confined to only five sectors: banking, healthcare, Internet, semi‐conductors and telecommunications.