The biggest buys: Facebook vs Google vs Microsoft

Facebook's $19 billion in cash and stock acquisition of WhatsApp is by far the company's largest and bigger than any that Google, Microsoft or Apple have ever done. The deal translates to roughly 9 per cent of Facebook's market value. In comparison, Google's biggest deal, Motorola Mobility, stood at $12.5 billion, while Microsoft's largest was Skype at $8.5 billion. Apple, meanwhile, has never done a deal above $1 billion.

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