Microsoft offloads Razorfish ad agency

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 10 Aug 2009 at 11:16

Microsoft has divested itself of internet advertising company Razorfish, in a deal worth $530 million.

Razorfish has been sold to French advertising group Publicis, though it will continue to serve as Microsoft's "preferred provider" for internet advertising for the next five years under the terms of the deal.

Microsoft acquired Razorfish in 2007 as part of its $6 billion takeover of Aquantive. The company was credited with designing the Bing logo and crafting the online ads for the ensuing publicity campaign.

However, Microsoft has reportedly been offering the company to potential buyers for the past three months as it looks to shore up a faltering bottom line.

The deal has also stoked speculation that Microsoft is looking to offload Massive, the in-game advertising company it bought for $200 million in 2006.