Microsoft to Buy Norway's Fast for $1.2B

Bid is 42% premium over enterprise searcher's recent price
By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 8, 2008 7:05 PM CST
Microsoft to Buy Norway's Fast for $1.2B
Bill Gates Speaks At The Press Preview For CES   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)

Microsoft solidified its plans to purchase Fast Search & Transfer today with a $1.2 billion offer, roughly a 42% premium over the Norwegian enterprise search company's Friday closing price. The news drove Microsoft shares down today to $34.20, a 1.2% drop, while Fast shares rose nearly 41%, approaching Microsoft's offer price, Red Herring reports.

Two of Fast's major shareholders have approved the deal, and Microsoft is set to close in the second quarter, the Seattle Times reports. Microsoft has had its eye on Fast and other consumer search companies for some time. "The combination of Microsoft and Fast gives customers a new choice: a single vendor with solutions that span the full range of customer needs," a Microsoft statement read. (More Microsoft stories.)

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