Breakups and Unions of 2008

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Bank of America & Countrywide Financial

January 2008: Bank of America acquires Countrywide Financial, the largest U.S. mortgage lender, for $4 Billion in stock."" premieres Friday, December 19th at 8p ET.
Photo: AP Posted 16 Dec 2008

January 2008: Bank of America acquires Countrywide Financial, the largest U.S. mortgage lender, for $4 Billion in stock.

"CNBC Reports 2008: A Year on the Brink" premieres Friday, December 19th at 8p ET.

Bear Stearns & JP Morgan

March 2008: The collapse of Bear Stearns and forced JP Morgan buyout for $2 a share. The deal is backed by fed loans of $30 billion.
Photo: AP/Thomas Belknap

March 2008: The collapse of Bear Stearns and forced JP Morgan buyout for $2 a share. The deal is backed by fed loans of $30 billion.

InBev & Anheuser-Busch

July 2008:  Belgium's InBev decides to acquire Anheuser-Busch. The new company name is Anheuser-Busch InBev which now consists of 300 brands including Budweiser, Bud Light, Becks and InBev's Stella Artois.
Photo: AP/Todd J

July 2008:  Belgium's InBev decides to acquire Anheuser-Busch. The new company name is Anheuser-Busch InBev which now consists of 300 brands including Budweiser, Bud Light, Becks and InBev's Stella Artois.

Merrill Lynch & Bank of America

September 2008: Bank of America acquires Merrill Lynch, one of the leading investment banking institutions, in a $50 billion all-stock transaction.  The deal creates a financial service empire and one of the largest consumer corporate banks in the U.S.
Photo: AP/Michael Gray

September 2008: Bank of America acquires Merrill Lynch, one of the leading investment banking institutions, in a $50 billion all-stock transaction.  The deal creates a financial service empire and one of the largest consumer corporate banks in the U.S.

Morgan Stanley & Goldman Sachs

September 2008: The last two standing investment banks, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, convert to bank holding companies.
Photo: AP Graphics

September 2008: The last two standing investment banks, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, convert to bank holding companies.

Wells Fargo & Wachovia

October 2008: Wells Fargo & Co. agrees to buy Wachovia for $15 billion.
Photo: AP Graphics

October 2008: Wells Fargo & Co. agrees to buy Wachovia for $15 billion.

Washington Mutual

September 2008:The feds seize Washington Mutual, the largest-ever bank failure in the U.S.
Photo: Colin

September 2008:The feds seize Washington Mutual, the largest-ever bank failure in the U.S.

Delta & Northwest

October:  $2.8 billion airline merger of Delta and Northwest.  "The airline industry faces a very difficult economic environment around the world and this merger gives Delta increased flexibility to adapt to the economic challenges ahead," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. (Source: MarketWatch)
Photo: James Willamer/Cubbie n vegas

October:  $2.8 billion airline merger of Delta and Northwest.  "The airline industry faces a very difficult economic environment around the world and this merger gives Delta increased flexibility to adapt to the economic challenges ahead," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. (Source: MarketWatch)

XM & Sirius

July 2008:  The FCC approved the $3.3 billion merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio.  They are the only two satellite radio providers in the U.S.  Together they have over 18 million subscribers."" premieres Friday, December 19th at 8p ET.Find out more...
Photo: AP Graphics

July 2008:  The FCC approved the $3.3 billion merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio.  They are the only two satellite radio providers in the U.S.  Together they have over 18 million subscribers.

"CNBC Reports 2008: A Year on the Brink" premieres Friday, December 19th at 8p ET.

Find out more...