Microsoft to acquire online advertising company aQuantive for $6 billion

18 May 2007

Mumbai: Microsoft Corporation, the world''s largest computer software and information technology company, has agreed to buy online advertising company aQuantive Inc. for about $6 billion.

aQuantive shareholders will receive $66.50 in cash — an 85 per cent premium to the latest closing price — Microsoft said in a statement distributed by PR Newswire.

The all-cash deal comes amidst a rash of consolidations and in quick succession to an earlier deal in which Google Inc. agreed to buy DoubleClick for $3.1 billion.

Yahoo Inc. snatching up 80 per cent of Right Media in a deal valued at $680 million. This was followed by WPP Group acquiring 24/7 Real Media Inc. for $649 million.

French advertising giant Publicis had bought online ad agency Digitas in December for $1.3 billion.

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, said it would expand its push into internet advertising through acquisition of Seattle-based aQuantive''s tools for managing the buying and selling of online ads.