Microsoft Completes aQuantive Buy

aQuantive said Monday that it is now a fully-owned subsidiary of Microsoft, after the acquisition cleared all regulatory concerns and was approved by aQuantive shareholders on Thursday. As per the deal, the board of the company has resigned, although its CEO will serve within Microsoft as the head of its newly formed Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group.

The new division takes responsibility for building and marketing all ad platforms, and reports to Kevin Johnson, Microsoft's chief of the Platforms & Services Group. "The addition of aQuantive's technologies and people to the Microsoft portfolio is a core, strategic investment and step forward in our plans to become one of the top two online advertising platforms in the industry." Johnson said.