NEW YORK-Telecommunications mergers made up four of the top 10 largest mergers of all time, according to a list released by the Associated Press following the approval of America Online Inc. merger with Time Warner.
Vodafone AirTouch plc’s merger with Mannesmann AG last year topped the list with a total valuation of $161 billion, well ahead of the second most valuable merger between pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and Warner-Lambert Co., valued at $116 billion.
SBC Communications Inc.’s merger with Ameritech in 1999 ranked sixth with a total valuation of $72 billion, followed by VodafoneGroup plc’s merger with AirTouch Communications Inc. in 1999 valued at $69 billion and Bell Atlantic Corp.’s merger with GTE Corp. last year, now called Verizon, valued at $60 billion.
The AOL-Time Warner merger ranked third on the list at $106 billion.
