microsoft-yahoo merger

Microsoft officially unhappy with Yahoo-Google deal

There have been a lot of stories since the Google-Yahoo deal was announced Thursday saying that Microsoft would be mounting a massive campaign to block the deal. But until now, I haven't seen Microsoft itself saying much about the antitrust implications of the actual deal.

After some asking, here's what I got back from Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans. It's not exactly a declaration of war, but clearly Microsoft is not giving the deal its blessing.

"Our position has been clear since April that any deal between these two companies will increase prices for advertisers and start … Read more

Microsoft's Yahoo search bid worth billions

As part of Microsoft's last bid to acquire Yahoo's search business, it was willing to pay the search giant $1 billion in cash and also structure a deal that would have brought Yahoo $1 billion in operating income per year, a source told CNET News.com on Friday, confirming details reported earlier in the day by Reuters.

That deal would have seen Microsoft taking on the operations of the search business as well as its research costs, according to another source. In addition, Microsoft was willing to guarantee Yahoo better monetization than Yahoo gets from its Panama engine, … Read more

Analysts don't rule out a Microsoft-Yahoo deal just yet

Updated June 13 at 8:35 a.m. PDT with analyst comments on the Google-Yahoo search ad deal.

Shares of Yahoo continued to get hammered in early-morning market trading on Friday, in a sign that its Google search ad announcement wasn't enough to boomerang its share price northward following Microsoft's exit from buyout talks.

Yahoo was down 6.46 percent to $22 a share in early morning trading. On Thursday, Yahoo ended the day at $23.52 per share, down more than 10 percent.

But the market reaction that Microsoft has left the building and thrown away the … Read more

Google: Yahoo pact 'preserves' competition

With Microsoft and others certain to raise antitrust challenges over its pact with Yahoo, Google attempted to make its case Thursday for why the deal should be viewed favorably.

"Quite simply, we think it is good for users, advertisers and publishers," Omid Kordestani said in a blog posted on Thursday. "By offering Google's industry-leading technology to Yahoo, the whole system becomes more efficient, and everyone benefits."

Kordestani said that Google has already been in touch with antitrust authorities. "We have been in contact with regulators about this arrangement, and we expect to work closely … Read more

Icahn to drop Yahoo proxy fight, given Microsoft's pullout?

Yahoo and Microsoft talks are going away, but don't expect billionaire investor Carl Icahn to do likewise, said one source familiar with the investor activist.

Icahn, who last month launched a proxy fight to unseat Yahoo's board and push the two companies to merge, is likely to forge ahead with his active proxy fight campaign, the source said. Icahn is hoping to woo Yahoo investors to elect his dissident slate at Yahoo's annual shareholders meeting on August 1.

"I can't see Carl walking away. Some guys in tech think they're tough. They don't … Read more

Yahoo-Google: Microsoft left searching

After attempting to join forces with Yahoo in a bid against Google, Microsoft instead has brought its two rivals closer together.

The company not only failed to reach a deal to either buy Yahoo or its search business, but late Thursday Yahoo announced, as expected, a deal that will allow Google to place ads next to Yahoo search queries.

So where does that leave Microsoft? Essentially, the company is exactly where it started, trying to go it alone against Google. Except now, Google will have a little bit more revenue, assuming Yahoo and Google can get antitrust approval for their … Read more

Yahoo: Microsoft doesn't want us anymore

Updated 12:05 p.m. with Yahoo confirming talks concluded; 12:45 p.m. with additional details, Microsoft comment.

Microsoft's efforts to reach some sort of arrangement with Yahoo have broken down again, Yahoo confirmed on Thursday.

The search company said that, at a meeting on June 8, Microsoft indicated that it is no longer interested in Yahoo even at the $33 a share it had previously said it was willing to pay.

"The conclusion of discussions follows numerous meetings and conversations with Microsoft regarding a number of transaction alternatives, including a meeting between Yahoo and Microsoft on … Read more

Yahoo to ask for dismissal of amended shareholder suit

Yahoo on Wednesday said it plans to ask the court to dismiss an amended shareholders lawsuit and noted it would also oppose the plaintiffs' motion to seek a speedy trial to invalidate its employee severance plans.

In its filing to Delaware Chancery Court Chancellor William Chandler, Yahoo states:

We strongly disagree with Plaintiff's statements made in support of their Motion for a Trial Date (and supplemental letter) in connection with Yahoo!'s Change in Control Employee Severance Plans. It is obvious that Plaintiffs devoted much time in preparing their submissions in support of the Motion. We intend to oppose … Read more

Yahoo shareholders push judge for speedier trial date

In a move to add more grist to the mill, an attorney representing Yahoo shareholders dished up more material to support a call for a speedy hearing date on the company's controversial employee severance plans, according to a letter sent Wednesday morning to the judge overseeing the shareholders lawsuit.

The letter points to Yahoo's proxy materials filed Tuesday, as well as a posting in Silicon Alley Insider.

Plaintiffs in the shareholders lawsuit are asking the judge to set a trial date to invalidate the severance plans, prior to Yahoo's annual shareholders meeting on August 1.

That's … Read more