Now that's a lot of money to "write-off" ... boy, can you guys donate that to charity?

"Microsoft has written down the value of an online advertising firm it bought five years ago by $6.2bn (£4bn). Microsoft bought Aquantive for $6.3bn in cash in an attempt to catch rival Google in the race to increase revenues from search-related advertising.

The writedown effectively wipes out the acquisition's value, although there was little impact on Microsoft's shares in after-hours trading on Monday.

The purchase of Aquantive in 2007 was then Microsoft's biggest acquisition. It has since been eclipsed by the company's $8.5bn purchase of internet phone service Skype last year."

Source: BBC

Newer

Older