Microsoft buying aQuantive for $6 Billion
May 21st, 2007 by 
Administrator
The biggest story last week was was Microsoft’s (NasdaqGS: MSFT) $6 Billion buy out offer of aQuantive (NasdaqGS: AQNT). I was in Bangkok and watching this news over CNBC. I was not sure if I heard it right as the premium offered was a whooping 80% on the stock price. I am sure that aQuantive shareholders were laughing to the bank but some seems to see it as a desperate move by Microsoft.
After losing the bid for DoubleClick to Google at US$ 3.1 billion, Yahoo!’s purchase of Right Media’s 80% for 680 million and with WPP buying 24/7, there were not much candidates left for Microsoft to buy if they are serious about online advertising.
One thing for sure is that this transaction is something that Microsoft could afford financially with its cash on hand. This appears to be a last attempt to stay in the online advertising game which they are currently losing ground.
Just as I write this blog there was another news saying that Google and Salesforce are teaming up to help them better compete with Microsoft in the software business. It will be interesting to see how the battelfield develops in the coming years.
