Friday, May 18, 2007

Microsoft Buys aQuantive For $6B

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft announced this morning that it is acquiring aQuantive, in a deal worth approximately $6 billion. Microsoft said it will pay $66.50 per share in an all-cash transaction for the firm. aQuantive owns Atlas, a provider of advertising and publishing tools; DRIVEpm, and online advertising and publishing service; and Avenue A | Razorfish, an interactive ad agency. Microsoft said that the deal is expected to be completed in the first half of Microsoft's fiscal year 2008. aQuantive employs 2600, and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Microsoft's acquisition of aQuantive comes after a flurry of acquisition in the online advertising space, including a $3.1B acquisition of DoubleClick by Google, the $649M acquisition of 24/7 Real Media yesterday by advertising giant WPP; and Yahoo's acquisition of Right Media for $680M.