OK, obviously Microsoft has to counter Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick by buying aQuantive, but man, $6 billion?
Check out the Reuters story. Here’s an excerpt:
NEW YORK–Microsoft Corp. said on Friday it would buy aQuantive Inc. for about $6 billion, or $66.50 a share, an 85 percent premium to the online advertising company’s closing price on Thursday.
Shares of aQuantive shot to $63.95 in pre-opening trade, following news of the deal.
The all-cash deal tops a dramatic one-month consolidation spree across the online advertising market sparked when Google Inc. agreed to buy DoubleClick for $3.1 billion.
