These Are The Top Acquisitions Of Big Tech Companies

Facebook's

acquisition of WhatsApp for $19 billion earlier this year caused quite a stir, but that's only been the fourth biggest acquisition so far this year, according to a new infographic from Finances Online. Comcast

offered more than double that amount — $45 billion, to be exact — to buy Time Warner Cable

. Other big bidders this year include global pharmaceutical-maker Activis

and Charter Communications

. Companies acquire startups for a number of reasons, from acquiring technology to inheriting prized employees. Google

tends to be a big spender, throwing down billions of dollars for property and equipment, while Apple's

acquisitions are often smaller and less publicized.

Check out the full infographic here: