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July 9, 2007

Microsoft Out of FTC Woods Unscathed? What of Yahoo?

Microsoft just might be gloating a little about the fact that the Federal Trade Commission -- apparently -- has not asked for more information regarding its monster $6 billion aQuantive buy. The requisite 30-day period during which the FTC could do so has elapsed.

Google, of course, is withstanding further investigation into its purchase of DoubleClick, widely recognized as the catalyst for Microsoft's aQuantive acquisition, among other activity in the online ad management sector.

As quoted in TheStreet, a Microsoft spokesman confirmed the news and called the DoubleGoo deal a "very different" transaction from the aQuantroSoft buy. (Yes, I think it's funnier in these cases to employ the acquired firms' names in the first syllables.)

Evidently Google sent TheStreet (or other press) a statement Friday in response to inquiries about Microsoft. "The FTC did not 'extend' its 30-day review period," said Google according to the story. What it did do is make a "second request" for more info, with which Google is complying.

24/7 Real Media announced June 15 the 30-day inspection period during which the FTC and U.S. Department of Justice could have requested more information regarding its acquisition by WPP lapsed without request for a prolonged review.

According to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, companies must provide information prior to completion of a merger or acquisition to the FTC and DOJ if a transaction and parties involved meet certain criteria. (Learn more about those requirements and how the FTC goes about its investigations in this ClickZ News report.)

This leads to the question, what's up with the review of Yahoo's Right Media buy? Yahoo refused to comment regarding a review a while back when I inquired, but the company did acknowledge, "Yahoo's acquisition of Right Media requires HSR clearance." I've asked Yahoo about it, so I'll let you know what I find out….

Posted by Kate Kaye at July 9, 2007 11:06 AM

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