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
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
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
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
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.
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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world
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.
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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world
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
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
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.
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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world
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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Biggest merger and acquisition deals in the world
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.
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