Tech Giant Offered Massive $34.5 Billion Deal for Chrome Browser
In a surprising turn of events, American AI development startup Perplexity has made an offer to purchase Alphabet's browser Chrome for a staggering $34.5 billion. While the news has sent ripples across the tech industry, the financing for this mega-deal remains a mystery.
Perplexity, currently valued at approximately $18 billion, claims backing from a number of investors, including several major venture capital funds. However, no public list or names of these investors involved in the Chrome bid financing have been disclosed as of now. The company's most recent valuation, a fundraising round led by the venture capital firm Accel, does not directly connect Accel or other VC firms to the Chrome deal financing.
Meanwhile, multiple Perplexity investors have stated they have not been involved in discussions about financing the Chrome deal, suggesting that the details of the investor syndicate remain confidential or unconfirmed. Analysts estimate that Chrome's value in the deal could range from $20 billion to $50 billion, making the financing a crucial aspect of the transaction.
Elsewhere in the tech world, Google's Russian subsidiary OOO "Google" filed for bankruptcy in April 2024 with credit debt estimated between 19 billion rubles and 53.6 billion rubles, and assets not exceeding 3.5 billion rubles. The court ruled OOO "Google" bankrupt in November 2023.
In an antitrust case against Google, the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to force Google to spin off and sell Chrome, Android, and Google Ad Manager due to illegal market dominance. Google, currently valued at $1.81 trillion, is facing a significant challenge as it navigates these legal hurdles.
The tech landscape in Russia is also undergoing changes. Telegram, a notable player in the social network sector, and WhatsApp calls have been officially blocked by Roskomnadzor. Users are being urged to change their email due to the decoupling of Gmail from "Gosuslugi".
In the midst of these developments, Dmitry Rumyantsev, an expert on internet promotion, has commented on the Russian monopoly "Yandex" in the advertising segment and Telegram in social networks. He also stated that once again, there is one leading social network, and it was created by Pavel Durov, the creator of the leading social network.
The future of Google's Chrome and the tech industry as a whole remains uncertain as these events unfold. As more information about the financing for Perplexity's bid becomes available, the tech world will be watching closely.
Perplexity, aiming to secure funding for its acquisition of Chrome, might be turning to its investors in the realm of finance and business, some of whom are venture capital firms affiliated with the tech industry. The financing details for this mega-deal, estimated to require a range of $20-$50 billion, are presently confidential or unconfirmed, creating intrigue among tech analysts.
