Microsoft to Acquire aQuantive, Inc.
18 5월 2007 - 9:55PM
PR Newswire (US)
Company Details Plans to Build Internet-Wide Advertising Platform
for Advertisers, Publishers and Ad Agencies REDMOND, Wash., May 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft(R) Corp. today announced it
will acquire aQuantive, Inc., for $66.50 per share in an all-cash
transaction valued at approximately $6 billion. This deal expands
upon the Company's previously outlined vision to provide the
advertising industry with a world class, Internet-wide advertising
platform, as well as a set of tools and services that help its
constituents generate the highest possible return on their
advertising investments. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO) "The
advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace,
moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which
dramatically increases the importance of software for this
industry," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of
Microsoft. "Today's announcement represents the next step in the
evolution of our ad network from our initial investment in MSN(R),
to the broader Microsoft network including Xbox Live, Windows Live
and Office Live, and now to the full capacity of the Internet.
Microsoft is intensely committed to creating a thriving advertising
business and to partnering closely with all key constituencies in
this industry to help maximize the digital advertising opportunity
for all." The aQuantive acquisition enables Microsoft to strengthen
relationships with advertisers, agencies and publishers by
enhancing the Company's world- class advertising platforms and
services beyond its current capabilities to serve MSN. The
acquisition also provides Microsoft increased depth in building and
supporting next generation advertising solutions and environments
such as cross media planning, video-on-demand and IPTV. Combining
aQuantive's technologies and services with Microsoft's portfolio
will provide value for the industry's key constituencies as
follows: * Advertisers and ad agencies will benefit from a
world-class media planning, buying and campaign management solution
to drive maximum ROI and optimize their reach to audiences across
the increasingly fragmented, interactive media landscape. * Media
owners/publishers will gain access to best-in-class inventory
optimization and monetization solutions across a full suite of rich
media, video and targeting capabilities. * The broader advertising
ecosystem will benefit from the leading interactive advertising
agency, Avenue A | Razorfish, continuing to serve its impressive
client roster, while also embedding the voice of the marketer into
Microsoft's next generation advertising solutions and services.
Founded in 1997, aQuantive, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQNT) is the parent
company of one of the industry's most successful families of
digital marketing service and technology companies, encompassing
three primary brands. * Atlas provides a set of advanced tools for
both advertisers and publishers. The Atlas Media Console is an
industry-leading toolset providing agencies and advertisers with
capabilities to maximize ROI. The Atlas Publisher platform enables
publishers to maximize monetization opportunities for their
content. * DRIVEpm provides services to publishers and advertisers
that match advertiser campaigns with publisher inventory enabling
all parties to maximize ROI. * Avenue A | Razorfish is one of the
largest interactive ad agencies in the world, providing advertisers
with industry-leading digital marketing consultation, media
planning and buying, and creative services that help advertisers
use the online channel to build meaningful, profitable
relationships with their customers. "Combining the talented people
and deep technology and service expertise of these two companies
will help make buying and selling media simpler, smarter and more
cost effective for advertisers, agencies and publishers alike,"
said Kevin Johnson, president, Platforms and Services Division at
Microsoft. "Joining the capabilities of these groups is an
important step toward our goal of becoming an industry leading,
Internet-wide advertising platform." "aQuantive's mission has been
to leverage the power of digital marketing services and
technologies to drive measurable results for our clients," said
Brian P. McAndrews, chief executive officer of aQuantive.
"Microsoft has set a leading example in prioritizing industry
partnership, transparency, measurement and quality, and we look
forward to combining forces and bringing the value of our combined
assets to bear for the benefit of advertisers, ad agencies and
publishers." The deal is expected to be completed in the first half
of Microsoft's fiscal year 2008. The acquisition is not expected to
have a significant impact on the financial guidance previously
issued by the Company. aQuantive, which has approximately 2600
employees, will continue to operate from its Seattle headquarters
as part of Microsoft's Online Services Business. The combination of
Microsoft and aQuantive takes the Company's advertising platform to
the next level in its ability to serve Microsoft's first party
audience assets like MSN, Windows Live, Xbox Live, and Office Live,
as well as for third party publishers and applications such as
Facebook and Activision game titles. At 5:45 a.m. PDT today,
Microsoft will hold a teleconference to discuss the acquisition. To
participate, U.S. residents can dial 888-930-9423, and those
outside the United States can dial + 1-773-681-5992. Passcode is
2760445. The call will be available for playback beginning
approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call through 5pm
PDT on Tuesday, May 22. To access the playback, U.S. residents can
dial 800-774-9248, and those outside the United States can dial +1
402-220-0372. An audio webcast of the conference call will also be
made available at the investor relations website
http://www.microsoft.com/msft. About aQuantive aQuantive, Inc., is
a global digital marketing company, founded in 1997 to help
marketers acquire, retain and grow customers across all digital
media. It is the parent company of Avenue A | Razorfish, the
largest interactive agency in the U.S., and five international
agencies, DNA, Amnesia, NEUE DIGITALE, e-Crusade and Duke; Atlas,
provider of integrated digital marketing technologies and
expertise; and DRIVEpm, MediaBrokers and Franchise Gator,
performance media and behavioral targeting businesses. Through its
business units, aQuantive is positioned to bring value to any
interaction in the digital marketplace. Its stock (ticker symbol:
AQNT) is listed on the NASDAQ exchange. aQuantive's website address
is http://www.aquantive.com/. About Microsoft Founded in 1975,
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential. For further information regarding risks and
uncertainties associated with Microsoft's business, please refer to
the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of
Microsoft's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual
report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of
which may be obtained by contacting Microsoft's Investor Relations
department at (800) 285- 7772 or at Microsoft's Investor Relations
website at http://www.microsoft.com/msft. All information in this
release is as of May 17, 2007. The company undertakes no duty to
update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to
actual results or changes in the company's expectations. Microsoft
and MSN are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Microsoft Corp. CONTACT:
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, +1-503-443-7070, ,
for Microsoft Corp. Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/
Copyright
Aquantive (NASDAQ:AQNT)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 5월(5) 2024 으로 6월(6) 2024
Aquantive (NASDAQ:AQNT)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 6월(6) 2023 으로 6월(6) 2024