Microsoft in $6.2bn write-down of aQuantive
 

Microsoft is taking a $6.2bn (£4bn) charge on the value of an online advertising firm bought five years ago.

Microsoft bought aQuantive for $6.3bn cash in an attempt to catch rival Google in the race to grow revenues from search-related advertising.

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

The purchase of aQuantive in 2007 was then Microsoft's biggest acquisition.

The company said in a statement on Monday that "the acquisition did not accelerate growth to the degree anticipated, contributing to the write-down".

The charge is likely to wipe out any profit for the company's fourth quarter. Wall Street was expecting Microsoft to report fourth-quarter net profit of about $5.25bn on 19 July.

In addition to the charge, Microsoft said its forecast for future growth and profitability at its online services arm - which includes the Bing search engine and MSN internet portal - are "lower than previous estimates."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18684395

Another company for which i never heard.

Well that was overvalued ... 6 billion? Haha

Found this original article about buying:
http://techcrunch.com/2007/05/18/mic...for-aquantive/
Seems they paid like 12 years revenue.Crazy considering in adult sites are usually sold for 6 month revenue.