Microsoft To Yahoo! - Please Let Us In, Oh Please Do

mat on Fri, 2007-05-04 05:54.

Rumours & Scandal

9 comments

More 'MS to buy Y!' noise for your fun filled Friday - Microsoft eyes Yahoo takeover deal

Microsoft Corp has intensified its pursuit of a deal with Yahoo Inc, asking the company to re-enter formal negotiations, The New York Post reported on its web site.

While Microsoft and Yahoo have held informal deal talks over the years, the latest approach signals an urgency on Microsoft's part that has up until now been lacking, the newspaper said, citing sources.

If you can't beat 'em (or if, in fact, you can't even join in the race), then buy 'em. Take 27.

Comments

Bill is sick of being left at the alter

skore on Fri, 2007-05-04 06:02.

Mat - you just beat me to it ;)

From the NY Post article:

Quote:

"They're getting tired of being left at the altar," said one banking source who has recently had talks with Microsoft. "They now seem more willing to extend themselves via a transaction to get into the game."

Original story from the NY Post

Scary. Every online company

Brad on Fri, 2007-05-04 06:18.

Scary. Every online company MS ever bought has started withering on the vine afterwards. Being bought by MS is like the ultimate vampire kiss of death as they just drain the life and innovation out of you.

I hope Yahoo stays independant. I think MSN needs to get their own currently clueless web properties in order before they start buying more and ruining them too. I think MSN can do it they just need to find the right people to lead the effort.

Good news for Ask!

Dudibob on Fri, 2007-05-04 06:25.

They get to join the top 3 spot by default if this goes through...ever?

We could expect the same results

The Founder on Fri, 2007-05-04 07:35.

We could expect the same results from MSN to now trickle to Yahoo .... Great crap... literally.

Big Mergers Don't Work

apogee on Fri, 2007-05-04 07:42.

GOOG will benefit if YHOO and MSFT merge. I worked at AOL when they merged with Time Warner. These types of big mergers simply don't work. Too much energy is spent trying to blend clashing cultures that the synergies that looked great on paper simply don't materialize.

YHOO would be better off simply partnering with MSFT on a PPC advertising platform venture. Gee, kind of like when Overture fed both MSFT and YHOO. Funny.

Financial Times seems to be

Nick Wilsdon on Fri, 2007-05-04 10:20.

Financial Times seems to be hinting they are already in talks? Well I say hinting, they more or less come out and say that.

Microsoft is in early stage talks with Yahoo with a view to a possible takeover in a move that would allow the software giant to compete more effectively with Google for online advertising, according to people familiar with the matter.

Microsoft is working with Goldman Sachs on a possible deal, the newspaper said, citing an unnamed banking source.

Catch Google News - seems to be growing by 100 stories every time I refresh at the moment. Rumour mill is going to 11 on this one.

Will Jerry be the wild-card?

skore on Fri, 2007-05-04 09:46.

From the WSJ (sub):

Quote:

Top Yahoo executives could be a big obstacle to any deal. Co-founder Jerry Yang, for one, has a reputation for disliking Microsoft and avoids using Microsoft products, says one person familiar with the matter. Top Yahoo staff might leave if Microsoft acquired the company and triggered a vesting of their Yahoo options.

disaster squared

bluecorn on Fri, 2007-05-04 12:50.

all the financial analysts act like it's just a matter of time, but the tech analysts say it would be a mess for both parties, and still leave them jointly behind G on G's curve. Surely both companies know this.

Microsoft is actually doing amazingly well in other quarters right now (Mix07), Ray Ozzie is looking very far down the road, same as G.

quieting the media leak

seobook on Fri, 2007-05-04 13:49.

Talks between Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. are no longer active, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.

source