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This article was first published 11 years ago

Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

September 04, 2013 10:46 IST

Image: Belgian headquarters of US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, in Brussels.
Photographs: Francois Lenoir/Reuters

With Verizon Communications agreeing to pay $130 billion to buy Vodafone, it signals history's third-largest merger and acquisition deal.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest M&A deals in the world.

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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: A Vodafone store in central London.
Photographs: Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters

Vodafone/Mannesmann

Acquirer: Vodafone

Target: Mannesmann

Deal value: $203 billion

Industry: Telecommunications

Deal date: April 2000

Overall rank: 1

Mannesmann, a German telecom giant, was acquired by Vodafone, a British multinational, in a hostile takeover for $230 billion in 2000.

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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Building housing the corporate headquarters of AOL in New York.
Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

AOL/Time Warner

Acquirer: AOL

Target: Time Warner

Deal value: $182 billion

Industry: Media and entertainment

Deal date: January 2001

Overall rank: 2

AOL, an American media corporation, acquired Time Warner, one of the world's biggest media companies, for $182 billion in 2001.

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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Verizon Wireless outlet in Boca Raton, Florida.
Photographs: Joe Skipper/Reuters

Verizon/Vodafone

Acquirer: Verizon

Target: Vodafone

Deal value: $130 billion

Industry: Telecommunications

Deal date: September 2013

Overall rank: 3

Verizon, an American broadband and telecommunications company, acquired British multinational Vodafone's wireless business in the United States for $130 billion in 2013.

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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Philip Morris International Operation Center in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Altria/Philip Morris

Acquirer: Altria

Target: Philip Morris

Deal value: $113 billion

Industry: Tobacco

Deal date: March 2008

Overall rank: 4

Altria, one of the largest tobacco corporations in the world, acquired American cigarette giant Philip Morris for $113 billion in 2008.

...

Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Head office of ABN Amro bank in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Photographs: Robin van Lonkhuijsen/Reuters

RFS Holdings/ABN Amro

Acquirer: RFS Holdings

Target: ABN Amro

Deal value: $98 billion

Industry: Banks

Deal date: November 2007

Overall rank: 5

RFS Holdings, a banking consortium of Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Fortis, acquired Dutch bank ABN Amro for $98 billion in 2007.

...

Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: AT&T cellular store in Los Angeles.
Photographs: Danny Moloshok/Reuters

AT&T/Bell South

Acquirer: AT&T

Target: Bell South

Deal value: $89 billion

Industry: Telecommunications

Deal date: December 2006

Overall rank: 6

AT&T, an American multinational telecommunications company, acquired American telecom corporation Bell South for $89 billion in 2006.

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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Pfizer headquaters in New York City.
Photographs: Jeff Christensen/Reuters

Pfizer/Warner-Lambert

Acquirer: Pfizer

Target: Warner-Lambert

Deal value: $89 billion

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Deal date: June 2000

Overall rank: 7

Pfizer, an American multinational pharmaceutical company, acquired American drug corporation Warner-Lambert for $89 billion in 2000.

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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Belgian headquarters of ExxonMobil, in Machelen, northern Brussels.
Photographs: Sebastien Pirlet/Reuters

Exxon/Mobil

Acquirer: Exxon

Target: Mobil

Deal value: $85 billion

Industry: Oil & Gas

Deal date: November 1999

Overall rank: 8

Exxon, an American petroleum giant, acquired American oil company Mobil for $85 billion in 1999.

...

Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: Shell's headquarters in the Hague, the Netherlands.
Photographs: Robin van Lonkhuijsen/Reuters

Royal Dutch/Shell

Acquirer: Royal Dutch

Target: Shell

Deal value: $80 billion

Industry: Oil & Gas

Deal date: July 2005

Overall rank: 9

Royal Dutch, a Dutch petroleum giant, acquired British oil company Shell for $80 billion in 2005.

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Tags: Shell , Royal

Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world

Image: GlaxoSmithKline building in Hounslow, west London.
Photographs: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

Glaxo Wellcome/SmithKline Beecham

Acquirer: Glaxo Wellcome

Target: SmithKline Beecham

Deal value: $79 billion

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Deal date: December 2000

Overall rank: 10

Glaxo Wellcome, a British multinational pharmaceutical company, acquired drug corporation SmithKline Beecham for $79 billion in 2000.