The first question on the list is ”is there technology synergy in the merger?” This can be answered by use of a radar chart of the IPC or US class codes of the proposed merged companies. This is one way to see the technology overlap and synergy that merging the entities would produce.  In the example of the “Patent Technology Coverage” figure, the patent technology coverage overlaps between the three entities shown. The joint venture between them provides a good portfolio in all three areas of interest, surgery, to: laboratory equipment, and drugs.