Microsoft Writing Down $6.2 Billion After AQuantive Sputters-Bloomberg

While Microsoft seems to be making some solid progress, the regime of Steve Ballmer has been further tarnished by today’s announcement that the company is writing off $6.2 billion in their online services division.  This loss is the result of Ballmer’s $6.3 billion acquisition of AQuantive which was an internet-advertising software provider.  Ballmer was given the reigns of one of the best, if not the best business of its time, and unfortunately he has proven to be a very poor steward of shareholder capital.  I have little doubt that if it weren’t for his cozy relationship with Bill Gates that he would have been replaced by now.  I applaud the tablet and mobile phone ventures, but this is a company that has been regularly behind the curve and at some point Ballmer needs to be held accountable.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-02/microsoft-will-write-down-6-2-billion-related-to-aquantive-deal.html