Microsoft Pays $6 billion for aQuantive: Massive Ad Network Consolidation Is Occuring
aQuantive is a public company (AQNT) and had a market cap of just $2.8 billion as of yesterday. The acquisition price of $6 billion is a roughly 2x premium on yesterday’s closing price, which is a reflection of the fact that this were competing bidders (see notes below). The acquisition comes after recent big acquisitions by Google and Yahoo in this space. Google bought Doubleclick for $3.1 billion in April. Later that same month, Yahoo acquired competitor RightMedia for $680 million. Just yesterday, WPP Group acquired yet another company in this space, 24/7 Real Media, for $649 million.
2006 revenues for aQuantive were $442 million. Net income as about $54 million.
aQuantive’s operating companies include both tools and ad agencies. The company is located in Seattle.
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