The United States MS: For enterprise Fast Search of search technology to purchase

The United States Microsoft announced that January 8th (the American time), for enterprise purchase was proposed to Norwegian Fast Search & Transfer (FAST) which manages search technology. As for purchase sum total 66 hundred million krones (approximately 1300 hundred million Yen). The board of directors and the large shareholder of FAST have welcomed proposition, as for purchase 4? The possibility that it completes in June period.

The purchase amount which Microsoft presents, per FAST stocks 1 stocks for 19 krones, added 42% premium in final value of 4 days. Release buying with the cash is planned.

The board of directors of FAST in all the meeting agreements, recommended the proposition acceptance to the shareholder. In addition, the shareholders who include large shareholder 2, own the stock of total 37%, say that the proposition acceptance was stated.

FAST with 1997 establishment, offering the high-level search platform to for enterprise. You say that in the United States AOL and the United States IBM and Japan it is introduced into the enterprise of 3900 or more, in each country such as optimism. As for Microsoft, the server product and the like for collaboration of the respective company and combining the technology of FAST, for enterprise the thought of strengthening the business of search field