• by May 23, 2007

Now describing itself as "the largest independent display ad network," ValueClick presented at the JMP Securities Research Conference, with Chief Administrative Officer Sam Paisley maintaining during a Q&A period that an FTC investigation now underway would not have an effect on the possible sale of the company--should a suitor show up.

Paisley pointed out that acquisitions--such as Google's takeover of YouTube--typically shield the buyers from the possibility of lawsuits.

"We've long said that if someone knocks on the door and has a proposal... we'll give the offer quite serious consideration," he said, and that hasn't changed.

More likely than ValueClick being acquired, Paisley hinted, would be the company continuing as an active acquirer of other companies.

"Companies that are potential targets for us are not those of interest to those at the very top of the food chain," he said.

ValueClick's slew of acquisitions in recent years has included Shopping.net, Fastclick and Pricerunner.