Hosting News
Microsoft Acquires Greenfield Online
2008-09-01
Software giant Microsoft Corp. announced on Friday that it has agreed to
acquire Web-based survey company Greenfield Online Inc. and its subsidiary Ciao
GmbH.
The European based online-shopping portal with websites in the United Kingdom,
France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Sweden. The transaction is
valued at approximately $486 million.
Greenfield said it entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by Microsoft,
via a cash tender offer for $17.50 per share, representing a premium of nearly
10% over Greenfield?s closing share price on August 25. This deal betters an
earlier proposal made by Quadrangle Group to acquire the company for $15.50 a
share.
Greenfield Online?s President and Chief Executive Officer said:
?We are pleased to deliver additional value to our stockholders through this
superior offer from Microsoft. We are excited about working with one of the
world?s leading corporations to effectuate a smooth transition in both our
comparison shopping and global ISS businesses.?
Microsoft said it will sell to an unnamed financial buyer Greenfield?s Internet
survey solutions [ISS] business, which accounts for about 75% of the company?s
overall revenue.
Greenfield, immediately prior to entry into the merger agreement with Microsoft,
terminated its previously announced merger agreement with affiliates of
Quadrangle Group LLC. Subsequent to the termination of the Quadrangle merger
agreement, Greenfield Online is required to pay Quadrangle a $5 million fee.
The merger of Greenfield Online and Microsoft is expected to close in the fourth
quarter of 2008.
This is Microsoft?s first major deal since failing to acquire Yahoo. The
Redmond, Washington-based company continues to look for ways and the right
strategy to catch Google Inc., with the expectation of boosting its Internet
business.
|
 |
Links |
|
StartLogic $5.95/mo- 200GB Diskspace
- 2000GB Bandwidth
- Host 10 Domains
- CGI PHP MySQL
- eCommerce Enabled
- 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Aplus.net $7.46/mo- 170GB Diskspace
- 2000GB Bandwidth
- PHP Perl Ruby C/C++ Python TCL SSI CGI
- 2 Free Domain Names
- DNS Management
- 99.99% Uptime
Bluehost $6.95/mo- 50GB Diskspace
- 999GB Bandwidth
- Host 6 Domains
- CGI Ruby(RoR) Perl PHP MySQL PostgreSQL
- Support Custom PHP.INI
- SSH SSL FTP Stats
- Free Domain Forever
- 27/7 Support
|
 |
|
Partners |
|
|
|
|
