Microsoft Corp recently announced that it would be buying the handset business of Nokia. The price tag for the acquisition was pegged at USD 7.2 billion. It was also seen as a way for Microsoft to move into the mobile computing sphere.

However, Reuters Factbox indicated in its report that Microsoft's history of acquisitions and investments in various companies had not been very lucrative for the firm.

For instance, Microsoft acquired social networking site Yammer for USD 1.1 billion in 2012. Not only has Microsoft been very silent about the site now, it has also kept mum about Yammer's financials.

Another losing deal was the USD 605 million investment Microsoft placed for Nook. Sales of the e-reader plunged 20% that Barnes & Noble announced in June that it would no longer be making Nook.

Microsoft also inked a ten-year contract with Yahoo to become the website's internet search services provider. Microsoft would then get a share of the revenues for the ads. Both firms have not been happy with the results of the agreement.