2014 has seen some pretty decent takeovers of tech giants despite the dullness of markets all over the world, with social messaging site Facebook acquiring the top spot. Here are the top ten tech acquisitions of 2014 :-
1.Whatsapp acquired by Facebook
The second largest tech acquisitions of all time: facebook in October acquired whatsapp.Whatsapp,which emerged as one of the most favourite mobile messaging app worldwide ,due to its simplicity ,was seen by facebook as a fresh addition to their set which could foster their overall presence in the social media sector.The deal was fixed for a total of $19 billion(INR 1,18,750 crores approx.) but the final price tag increasing to $22billion(INR 1,37,500crores approx.) due the increase in facebooks stock value.
2.SAP SE acquired Concur Tech.
SAP SE ,a German multinational software corporation ,focussed on making enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations,last month, bought ConCur Technologies,an American provider of travel and expense management services, for $7.3 billion (INR 43,800 crores approx.).
3.Level 3 Communications purchases TW Telecom — $7.3 Billion
Level 3 Communications, an American multinational telecommunications and Internet service provider company headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, in October acquired, TW Telecom Inc., a business telecommunications company headquartered also in Colorado
Level 3 used its stock and cash to buy TW Telecom, creating a larger domestic business for the international business data and voice company. The value of the deal reached $7.3 billion(INR 43,800 crores approx.) including TW Telecom’s $1.6 billion in corporate debt.
Level 3 values the combined company at $27 billion(INR 1,62,000 crores approx.). It has an annual revenue of $8 billion.
Level 3 now owns a 200,000-mile fiber-optic network that connects 50,000 business customers on six continents. It boasts that 80 percent of the 10 largest U.S. banks, Internet service providers, online destinations and global pharmaceutical companies use its services. Four of the six biggest movie studios are clients as well, Level 3 says.
4.Microsoft bought Nokia handset division
Microsoft acquired Nokia’s smartphone and mobile phone businesses(for $7.2+ billion (INR 43,200+ crores approx.)), its design team, most of its manufacturing and assembly facilities and operations, and sales and marketing support…The acquisition also brings key capabilities around supply chain, distribution, operational processes and systems and skill in managing hardware margins to Microsoft. The unified company will benefit from speedier execution and best-in-class business operations
Microsoft’s new CEO, Satya Nadella pictured with former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop
5.Oracle acquired Micros Systems
Oracle, leader in computer hardware systems and enterprise software products,had acquired , its rival Micros systems ,a US based company which manufactures and sells computer hardware, software, and services for the restaurant point of sale, hotel, hospitality, specialty retail markets and other similar markets,for a total value of $5.3 billion(INR 31,800crores approx.) in a deal to expand its Big Data efforts in the hotel and restaurant sectors.
The purchase of Micros, which makes point-of-sale hardware and software for restaurants and hotels, is the first multi-billion dollar acquisition by Larry Ellison-led Oracle in five years and follows disappointing fourth-quarter results.
Analysts has said the acquisition could be first in a string of deals for Oracle, which has been stung by aggressive pricing by companies such as Salesforce.com Inc and Workday Inc for their software and internet-based products.
The Micros deal fits with Oracle’s plan to expand its fast-growing cloud business, where it has been a late entrant.
Micros sells internet-connected cash registers and provides a host of cloud-based services such as e-commerce and customer relationship management to hotels and restaurant chains.The firm, based in Columbia, Maryland, has been involved with the operation of over 330,000 retail sites in 180 countries to date.
6. Vista Equity Partners took control of Tibco Software — $4.3 Billion
TIBCO Software Inc., a global leader in infrastructure and business intelligence software, last month announced that it had been acquired by Vista Equity Partners. The transaction, originally announced September 29, 2014, closed Friday, December 5, 2014.The deal had been done for $4.3 billion (INR 25,800 crores approx.).
Vista Equity is a leading private equity firm with over $14 billion in cumulative capital commitments, focused on investments in software, data and technology-enabled service companies. Vista has an extensive track record of successfully completing take-private transactions, including taking five other public companies private in the past three years. The firm helps its companies achieve operational, product and customer service excellence by contributing professional expertise, proven best practices and management techniques.
TIBCO Software Inc. is a global leader in infrastructure and business intelligence software. Whether it’s optimizing inventory, cross-selling products, or averting crisis before it happens, TIBCO uniquely delivers the Two-Second Advantage(R) — the ability to capture the right information at the right time and act on it preemptively for a competitive advantage. With a broad mix of innovative products and services, TIBCO is the strategic technology partner trusted by businesses around the world.
7.Elliot acquired Riverbed Technologies
Elliot Management took control of Riverbed Technologies through Thoma Bravo’s $3.6 billion(INR 21,600 crores approx.)acquisition of Riverbed Technologies. Elliott had been pressing Riverbed to sell itself due to a slowdown in its main Wide-Area Network (WAN) optimization business and its struggle to integrate Opnet, a maker of software to manage traffic on networks that it bought in 2012 for about $1 billion.
Elliott Management Corporation is the management affiliate of US Hedge funds Elliott Associates L.P. and Elliott International Limited. Elliott was founded by Paul Singer, who also serves as CEO of the management company, which is based in New York City
Riverbed®, at more than $1 billion in annual revenue, is the leader in Application Performance Infrastructure, delivering the most complete platform for Location-Independent Computing.
8.Zebra Tech. Purchased Motorola Solutions’ Scanner Business — $3.5 Billion
Motorola Solutions has sold its scanner business to Zebra Technologies for $3.5 billion (INR 21,000 crores) in April last year.
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9.Google takes control of Nest Labs
Google in February completed the purchase of Nest Labs, a smart thermostat maker, in an effort to boost its profile in the smart home arena.
Google completed its purchase of Nest Labs after receiving the go-ahead from the Federal Trade Commission. Google revealed its intentions to use Nest Labs’ cutting-edge products and design team to further its foray into the “connected home” arena, with particular focus on integration with GOOG’s Android smartphone OS. Management clearly wanted to put Google on the front lines of home automation, a market estimated to be worth at atleast $44 billion by 2017, and Nest Labs was the perfect entry vehicle.
The deal was closed for$3.2 billion(INR 19,200 crores)
The sale led to an outcry among Apple fans as Nest Labs founder, Tony Fadell, is widely considered the creator of the iconic iPod.
10.Apple Acquired Beats Electronics
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Tech giant Apple purchased Beats, which includes both Beats Audio hardware and Beats Music,the streaming radio service that was founded by rapper Dr. Dre and longtime music industry exec Jimmy Iovine.
The price is indeed $3 billion(INR 18,000 crores approx.), with $2.6 billion in cash and $400 million in stock.
Apple typically makes smaller purchases of startups and companies most people have never heard of, so Beats is a considerable change of course for the company. The last really high-profile acquisition Apple made was NeXT, back when it bought that company to bring Steve Jobs back into the fold.
