Online ad firm ValueClick is selling its Web Clients online lead-gen business for $45 million. No word on who the buyer is. ValueClick (NSDQ: VCLK) says the decision is part of its “strategy to focus on growing its core online marketing services and technology businesses;” it also sold two of its other “non-core” properties in October 2008, including its media buying and planning software unit and its inkjet e-commerce business, for a total of $18 million.

SEE ALSO: ValueClick Acquires Web Clients For $141 Million, E-Babylon For $14.7 Million

This sale represents quite a drop in value for the Web Clients business, since ValueClick had bought it for $141 million in cash and stock less than five years ago. Here’s the release.

Updated: Rafat adds: From an SEC filing later today, the company said it received the $45 million amount as a five-year note bearing interest, with payments amortized over a 10-year period, and a balloon payment at the end of the fifth year. The note is secured by substantially all of the assets of the buyer, consisting of Web Clients and other unrelated businesses, the filing said. Which just sounds like VCLK really really wanted to wash its hands off the unit.