Most Expensive Corporate Acquisitions of All Time

#2 Vodafone Airtouch Acquires Mannesmann- $185.1 Billion: In 1999, when Vodafone merged with AirTouch Communications, it led to one of the largest mobile businesses in the world. In 1999 itself when Mannesmann began operating in Vodafone’s domestic territory, UK; Vodafone stepped further with a hostile takeover and officially in 2000, Vodafone acquired MannesmannAG and its businesses in Germany and Italy. This merger of Vodafone and Mannesmann, made Germans unhappy as they viewed a UK company playing a dominant role in its domestic market.

#3 Altria Group Spins off Phillip Morris International- $107 Billion: Once known as Philips Morris Companies Inc., it rebranded itself with the name Altria Group Inc. in 2003. Four years later after the change Altria sold off Phillip Morris International from Philip Morris USA. Altria remains in the tobacco business and owns Phillip Morris USA, among other tobacco companies, but sold off Philip Morris International for a cool $107 billion in 2007.

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