More information about this can be found in their press release [1] from a couple weeks ago. It appears that they are having to do a writedown [2] on their purchase of aQuantive [3]. The original purchase was to be more competitive in the online advertising marketplace when they lost out to Google in acquiring DoubleClick [4].
Unfortunately, there is little information about this will actually affect their financials. The single-sentence blurb from the source doesn't shed much light on the situation.
Unfortunately, there is little information about this will actually affect their financials. The single-sentence blurb from the source doesn't shed much light on the situation.
[1] - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2012/Jul12/07-02Co...
[2] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Write-off#Writedown
[3] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AQuantive
[4] - http://www.pcworld.com/article/131991/microsoft_to_buy_aquan...