Price: $12.5 billion
Announced: August 2011
FTC Approval: TBD
The crown jewel of Google's acquisitions -- but for its patents, not its "Hello Moto" ads. This monster deal will convert Google from smartphone OS provider to smartphone maker, which may make some of its other partners nervous. Companies like HTC and Samsung, however, have expressed satisfaction in the deal for its investment in the protection of Android from legal attacks by rivals such as Apple and Research in Motion.
The key is Motorola's patent treasure trove of 17,000 patents and 7,500 awaiting approval. Google's struggle to protect itself is not new, and after its failure to buy Nortel's patent cache earlier this year, this move represents a stunning counterattack. In its note following the announcement today, Nomura wrote to investors that it expected the patent crisis for Google to now subside. The main concern -- besides the big-money price tag? CitiGroup's note warned that, given past regulatory delays, the deal may not close before 2012.
NEXT
