Report: Microsoft looks to unload ad agency Razorfish |
Follow the ups and downs of a new Seattle startup in a series of behind-the-scenes posts by its founders.
Today On Techflash
- Tell us your sales horror stories
- Calbucci to sell Twitter list service
- A color screen for the next Kindle?
- Intelius co-founder released
- Isilon boosts CEO Patel's salary
- Windows chief: Battery alerts aren't a bug
- Fortune's list of 100 Best Places to Work
- Google vs. Facebook and Twitter?
- Infinia, Avalara and others grab cash
Tech Events
Mass High Tech
- Gates, Ozzie, Microsoft execs patent 'personal data mining'
- Bill Gates, startup lessons and other top stories of the month
- Bill Gates' shirt, iPad vs. Kindle and other comments of the week
- Bill Gates on The Daily Show: 'I am a very loyal Microsoft user'
- Bill Gates on Daily Show tonight, maybe this time he'll stick around
Report: Microsoft looks to unload ad agency Razorfish
Rumors have circulated for months that Microsoft was looking to unload Razorfish, the Seattle digital advertising agency it picked up as a result of its $6 billion acquisition of aQuantive. Now, the software giant is formally moving ahead with the plan, hiring Morgan Stanley to help find a buyer, according to a report.
One potential buyer is Publicis, the French advertising giant which has a tight relationship with Microsoft, reports the Financial Times. Quoting an analyst, the newspaper reports that Razorfish -- which employs 2,000 people -- could fetch $600 million to $700 million.
Last fall, rumors also circulated that Microsoft had discussed selling the unit to WPP. At the time of that rumor, Razorfish CEO Clark Kokich told TechFlash that there were "no plans" to sell the company.
"That doesn't mean that two to three to four years from now, it might not happen," he said.
We've reported on numerous layoffs at the company in recent months, and speculated that the trimming could be a way to make Razorfish more attractive to potential suitors.
In April, Microsoft sold off another old aQuantive property -- Franchise Gator -- for about $20 million. Microsoft declined to comment on the report in the Financial Times.
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 BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
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.
WTIA 15th Annual Industry Achievement Awards
Held on March 4th 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 3rd on the WTIA site.
We congratulate the 2010 finalists and look forward to unveiling the winners on March 4th. REGISTER NOW!
Mobile applications are a cutting-edge way to extend your brand’s reach into the hands of consumers 24/7. Increase loyalty and customer engagement by developing a targeted and effective mobile application. Learn the basics about mobile applications by reading our white paper Beyond the iPhone: Engaging Customers with Mobile Applications.
If you’re considering a mobile initiative for Q1-2010, now is the time to get started. The white paper covers: Venturing into Mobile Application Development, Typical Problems to Avoid, and Developing the Solution. Reaxion is a Seattle-based mobile application development company focused on start-to-finish project management and cost-effective development. Download Beyond the iPhone: Engaging Customers with Mobile Applications.
From the trenches
Job Listings
- Registered Health Information Technician (Forms & Records Analyst 2)
- State of Washington Department of Corrections
- Principal SDE - Project Natal - Gameplay Engineering - 711621
- Microsoft Corporation
- Senior Web Analyst - 705536
- Microsoft Corporation
- Telecommunications Consultant (I)
- Sparling Electrical & Technology Consulting
- Senior SDET - 706910
- Microsoft Corporation
