Quoted from an article located here:
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Microsoft Corp. will acquire a significant stake in popular online social networking company Facebook Inc., the company said Wednesday. Microsoft said in a prepared statement that it will contribute $240 million toward an upcoming financing round for Facebook that values the closely-held company at $15 billion. Microsoft said the deal will expand the companies' existing advertising partnership, whereby Microsoft sells online advertisements for Facebook within the U.S. Microsoft will also now sell advertisements for Facebook internationally, the company said. Microsoft had reportedly been involved in a protracted bidding war with rival Google Inc. for a stake in the rapidly-growing social networking company.