Online advertising merger-and-acquisition frenzy

[mandy]

A pair of dollar online advertising deals:

Interactive marketing firm 24/7 Real Media has agreed to be acquired by UK-based advertising giant WPP Group, continuing the trend of consolidation in the online advertising space. London-based WPP will pay $11.75 per share for 24/7, WPP said, giving the all-cash deal a value of $649 million...

The purchase is a reminder of the desire of traditional marketing firms to be able to offer their clients Internet advertising expertise, business they are otherwise at risk of losing to online players such as Google, which are increasingly offering off-line marketing options alongside their Internet services...

full article: http://ecommercetimes.com/story/RUkhUZNW...-Buy.xhtml

Microsoft announced on Friday it will acquire Web ad firm aQuantive in a deal valued at $6 billion, marking the latest and largest deal in a merger-and-acquisition frenzy aimed at staking a claim in the converging worlds of traditional and online advertising. Microsoft agreed to pay $66.50 per share for the Seattle-based company, a sizable 85 percent premium over the Thursday closing price of $35.87. The all-cash deal is expected to close early in 2008, assuming regulatory and shareholder approval...

full article: http://ecommercetimes.com/story/Duvb1vmU...r-6B.xhtml