M&A: The biggest technology deals in the past three years (Apple, Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle)

Over the past three years, the tech world experienced lots of big changes, involving big tech companies—Apple, Amazon, IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle. All these big tech companies have been highly active in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) space, adding new companies and expanding their capabilities in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, software, and healthcare. 

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Here are some of the biggest deals in the tech world:

Microsoft

1. Microsoft acquired Nuance Communications, which specializes in AI-driven speech recognition and healthcare solutions, in 2021 for $19.7 billion. The deal bolstered Microsoft's presence in the healthcare sector and enhanced its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, particularly in the natural language processing space.
2. In 2022, Microsoft bought gaming giant Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. The goal is to strengthen its position in the highly competitive gaming industry and expand its content for Xbox and PC platforms.

Apple

1. Apple acquired Xnor.ai in 2020. Xnor.ai's AI tools have been integrated into Apple's devices, enhancing on-device AI capabilities.
2. Apple snatched Primephoni, a classical streaming service, in 2021. This deal led to the integration of Primephonic's features into Apple Music, expanding Apple Music's reach and specifically targeting the classical music audience.

Amazon

1. iRobot, best known for its Roomba vacuum cleaners, was acquired by Amazon in 2022 for $1.7 billion to add smart home devices into its product offerings.
2. Amazon bought MGM Studios in 2021. This $8.45 billion deal added a vast library of films and TV shows to the well-established Amazon Prime Video, strengthening its position in the hotly contested streaming space.

Google (Alphabet )

1. Google acquired cybersecurity specialist Mandiant in 2022 for $5.4 billion. Mandiant is a fast-growing cybersecurity startup whose expertise in threat intelligence and incident response complements Google Cloud’s security offerings, strengthening Google's cybersecurity effort. 
2. Fitbit was acquired by Google in 2021 for $2.1 billion. The goal of the acquisition is to expand the company's presence in the wearable technology and health monitoring markets.

IBM

1. In 2022, IBM acquired Octo, a technology firm specializing in digital transformation for the U.S. federal government. This deal, according to the company's press release, strengthened IBM's federal consulting capabilities, particularly in key areas like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
2. The next year (2020), IBM acquired Nordcloud to boost IBM's cloud consulting expertise, particularly in multi-cloud solutions.

Oracle

1. Enterprise software giant Oracle made one of its largest tech deals when it acquired Cerner, a healthcare technology company, in 2022. This $28.3 billion acquisition aims to enhance Oracle's presence in the healthcare sector by integrating Cerner's health records with Oracle's cloud offerings, expanding Oracle's cloud-based services.

Overall, all these acquisitions reflect the strategic directions these big tech companies are pursuing, particularly in AI, cloud services, and healthcare. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will remain a critical strategy for big tech companies looking to expand their portfolio and stay competitive in an increasingly competitive digital world. 

Why 2024 could be a better year for M&A activity: