Acquisitions

MICROSOFT BUYS MAP SERVICE

Microsoft, Redmond, WA, agreed to pay $96 million for former competitor Vicinity, Sunnyvale, CA, a company that helps consumers find local merchants. Vicinity provides information on retailers' nearest locations and hours through the Internet, telephone, and wireless services. Taco Bell, Hilton Hotels, Ace Hardware, and The Gap are all Vicinity clients. Microsoft will fold Vicinity into its MapPoint unit. The deal is expected to close by March 2003.

TUCKER TAKES OVER CARLSON DRADDY

The Tucker Partnership, New York City, purchased promotion shop Carlson Draddy & Associates. The new company is called Tucker Draddy Kane & Partners, with Bill Tucker serving as managing partner and ceo. The newly combined company has billings of $160 million and 55 employees. Clients include GE Corporate and Pennzoil Quaker State.

LAUNCH SNAPS UP WILLIAM A. POTTER INC.

Launch Creative Marketing, Hillside, IL, has purchased creative agency William A. Potter Inc., a specialist in package design, point of sale, and sales collateral materials. The acquisition of Potter will bring clients such as Sanford Corp., Tootsie Roll, and Newell Rubbermaid to the Launch stable, which already includes Keebler Co., Alberto-Culver Co., and Hedstrom Corp.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT BLOCKS SATELLITE MERGER

The Justice Department has blocked the $21 billion merger of EchoStar with DirectTV parent Hughes Electronics. The government determined the deal would form a monopoly, particularly for rural customers with no options for cable service. EchoStar and Hughes are going to court to fight the decision but with a court date of late February or early March it may not matter — the original merger agreement includes a final deadline clause of Jan. 21 that will enable either company to walk away if the deal is not complete.