Microsoft eyes $6bn takeover of advertising firm

Microsoft unveiled the largest acquisition in the software group's history with the proposed $6bn (€4.44bn) takeover of US online advertising firm aQuantive.

The software giant snapped up the group at a premium in a bid to secure a slice of the lucrative online advertising market, which is estimated to be worth $40bn (€29.6bn) and is expected to grow at a rate of 20% a year.