AT&T Inc. has agreed to sell its global programmatic advertising marketplace, Xandr Inc., to Microsoft. The agreement builds on a decade-long relationship between Xandr, including its predecessor companies, and Microsoft for delivering global digital media solutions for advertisers.
As the digital landscape evolves in a post-cookie world, Microsoft and Xandr can shape the digital ad marketplace of the future. Xandr’s technology strategically complements Microsoft’s current advertising offerings and will help accelerate the delivery of digital advertising and retail media solutions for the open web by combining Microsoft’s audience intelligence, technology, and global advertising customer base with Xandr’s scaled, data-driven platform.
Speaking on the deal, Xandr’s EVP and GM Mike Welch said, “Microsoft’s shared vision of empowering a free and open web and championing an open industry alternative via a global advertising marketplace makes it a great fit for Xandr. We look forward to using our innovative platform to help accelerate Microsoft’s digital advertising and retail media capabilities.”
“With Xandr’s talent and technology, Microsoft can accelerate the delivery of its digital advertising and retail media solutions, shaping tomorrow’s digital ad marketplace into one that respects consumer privacy preferences, understands publishers’ relationships with consumers and helps advertisers meet their goals,” said Mikhail Parakhin, President of Web Experiences at Microsoft.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory reviews.
