After the fiasco Yahoo, Microsoft catches up with Ciao
Microsoft seeks to expand its business search engine and e-commerce. And it is in Europe that paves the way to try to achieve that goal.
The software publisher has announced the takeover of his compatriot Greenfield Online Inc., owner of Internet sites European Ciao! for 486 million dollars (331 million euros). Microsoft has already planned to sell the other branch of Greenfield Online, solutions that investigations on the Internet (studies of opinions) to a financial buyer remained anonymous.
Greenfield Online Inc. has changed its mind and rejected the proposed purchase of Quadrangle. The offer Microsoft was far more attractive than the media company which offered $ 15.50 per share against 17.50 dollars from the software giant.
Ciao present in eight countries including France
Ciao.com is an Internet site for comparing prices also publishes advice on products produced by members of his “community shopping. It was developed in France but also in Spain, Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and the USA (beta). Sites Ciao, had been bought by Greenfield Online in 2005.
“Ciao’s team has built a passionate community of consumers relying on a technology intuitive and extensive trade relations, which we believe will benefit the platform Microsoft Live Search”, said in a statement Tami Reller, Vice President and CFO of Windows and online services at Microsoft.
