Microsoft’s Second Largest Acquisition In History

It is key to note just how big of a bet Microsoft is playing with its purchase of Nuance.

Microsoft plans to acquire Nuance in a transaction valued at $19.7 billion, inclusive of Nuance’s net debt. The $19.7 billion price tag Microsoft is willing to pay is the second largest in the Redmond, Wash.-based company’s long history.

Microsoft’s biggest acquisition ever was its $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn five years ago. After LinkedIn and Nuance, Microsoft’s third largest acquisition ever was for Skype for $8.5 billion a decade ago in 2011.

The massive amount of money Microsoft is spending on Nuance cannot be overlooked and poses some questions around just how much technology integration is ahead.