Unity's Major Move Has 1 Top Competitor Shaking in Its Boots

In the mobile app creation and monetization space, three of the biggest public companies are Unity Software (NYSE: U), ironSource (NYSE: IS), and AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP). And this space has suddenly become an epicenter for merger activity.

On July 13, Unity Software and ironSource made a surprise merger announcement. And this apparently left AppLovin shaking in its boots. This characterization may sound hyperbolic, but consider that less than one month later, AppLovin proposed its own merger with Unity with terms so attractive it hints at desperation. Here's what it all means for investors.

All three of these companies primarily serve the video game industry. Unity has a 3D content creation engine that is distinct from ironSource and AppLovin. For its part, ironSource partners with mobile carriers to assist in app discovery, something the other two don't do. And AppLovin has an operating segment of first-party mobile games unlike Unity and ironSource. But all three overlap in partnering with third-party app developers to get them discovered and monetized.

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Source Fool.com