Report: Microsoft sells piece of the former aQuantive for $20 mil.

Puget Sound Business Journal

Today On Techflash

Tech Events

February - March 2010

View All Events

Thursday February 11, 2010

8:00 AM PST

Mobile Commerce in a Wireless Data World

Wednesday February 17, 2010

5:30 PM PST

Net-Success-Working Event

Thursday March 4, 2010

5:30 PM PST

WTIA Industry Achievement Awards

Sunday March 21, 2010

12:00 PM PDT

Software User Assistance Conference

Thursday March 25, 2010

7:00 AM PDT

Social Media Conference NW

Mass High Tech

DEAL

Report: Microsoft sells piece of the former aQuantive for $20 mil.

Todd Bishop on Friday, April 3, 2009, 9:23am PDT

Comments

| Permalink

Mergers and acquisitions | Microsoft | MSFT

Microsoft has sold Franchise Gator to Landmark Interactive for about $20 million, according to a report today on PaidContent.org. The business, which markets business franchise opportunities, was acquired by aQuantive in May 2006, for about $21.5 million. That was prior to Microsoft's $6 billion acquisition of aQuantive.

The news is interesting in part because of the speculation that has swirled around the Razorfish advertising agency, also picked up by Microsoft in the aQuantive purchase. Razorfish has long been seen as an odd fit inside Microsoft. As small as the Franchise Gator deal is, relatively speaking, it could be a sign that Microsoft is prepared to deal if the right opportunity comes along.

PaidContent's Rafat Ali notes that Franchise Gator is a good fit for Landmark, which already has similar businesses.

We've asked Microsoft for comment, and confirmation, and we'll update this post depending on the response.

Update, 5 p.m.: Microsoft confirmed the sale but didn't comment on price or other details.

About Todd Bishop

Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.

READ FULL BIOGRAPHY

206-876-5466

@toddbishop

Recent Sponsor Posts

Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Glengarry Glen Ross Feb 5th to Feb 28th

One of the largest and most renowned regional theatres in the country, Seattle Repertory Theatre produces a mix of celebrated classics, recent Broadway hits and cutting-edge new works in two theatre spaces. Now playing David Mamet's American classic Glengarry Glen Ross through February 28. Join us for Sales Rep Industry night February 11 with the Puget Sound Business Journal. For details click here.

MORE INFORMATION

Attention Web Developers

Join the Microsoft WebsiteSpark program and get software, support and visibility – at no upfront cost. You’ll benefit from fast and easy access to current Microsoft development tools, platform technology and server products including Visual Studio, Expression Studio, Silverlight, Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Web.

Seattle-based Adhost is a WebsiteSpark hosting partner providing dedicated servers with free Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 licensing for three years to Web developers enrolled in WebsiteSpark. Servers are located in our secure data center with SAS 70 Type II certification, 24x7 technical support and 24x7 client access.

Join today.

MORE INFORMATION

WTIA 15th Annual Industry Achievement Awards

Held on March 4^th at the Showbox SODO, this casual event celebrates and recognizes some of the best emerging and established companies in the Washington Tech Industry. The evening will feature a finalist company technology showcase and a variety of coffee, chocolate, and wine samples from local companies. More than 800 attendees are expected to be present at the celebration. Public online voting for Technology Leader of Tomorrow Scholarships will open February 3^rd on the WTIA site.

We congratulate the 2010 finalists and look forward to unveiling the winners on March 4^th. REGISTER NOW!