according to sky news & cnn http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/01/technology/microsoft_yahoo/?postversion=2008020106
Yeah, just saw that at the beeb... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7222114.stm Do you think 62% over the closing price will clinch it? I'm not surprised this has happened, if M$ can't get search right then they might as well swallow up some firm that will help them at least try and contend with Google. If this happens it'll be a 2 horse race... how boring will that be?
Microsoft offers to buy search engine operator Yahoo for $44.6 billion in cash and stock. Details soon. Breaking News Comments :-
Great News! Hope they merged and can introduce something better and more profitable than Adsense, that would be something for us as webmasters to celebrate about.
From Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-microsoft-yahoo,0,3850807.story REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. is offering $44.6 billion in cash and stock for search engine operator Yahoo Inc. in a move to boost its competitive edge in the online services market. The unexpected announcement Friday comes as Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, seeks new ways to compete more efrfectively against the search and online advertising powerhouse Google Inc. In a letter to Yahoo's board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said the company will bid $31 per share, representing a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing stock price Thursday, and emphasized that the deal isn't subject to financing. "In February 2007, I received a letter from your chairman indicating the view of the Yahoo board that "now is not the right time from the perspective of our shareholders to enter into discussions regarding an acquisition transaction," Ballmer wrote. "According to that letter, the principal reason for this view was the Yahoo board's confidence in the "potential upside" if management successfully executed on a reformulated strategy based on certain operational initiatives, such as Project Panama, and a significant organizational realignment." "A year has gone by, and the competitive situation has not improved," Ballmer added. Under terms of the proposed deal, Yahoo shareholders could choose to receive cash or Microsoft common shares, with the total purchase consisting of 50 percent each cash and stock. Microsoft said it sees at least $1 billion cost savings generated by the merger, and intends to offer significant retention packages to Yahoo engineers, key leaders and employees. The software giant said it believes the takeover would receive regulatory clearance and close in the second half of 2008. Wow.. D/C
Yahoo previous reaction to the take over bids seemed quite negative, hopefully their loss this time turns out to be Microsoft gain.
Wow...just saw that just now http://www.247wallst.com/2008/02/a-big-win-for-y.html Well, 62% premium is attractive for shareholders and also Jerry and David. The 2 founders can walk away with extra 1 Billion over their current net worth For MS, it is also looks great deal because they can sell Alibaba and Yahoo Japan and reduce acquisition cost by abt 10B and also end up with 35% market share vs Google's 50%
yes i heard that on my news channel yahoo share jumped 52% after this and msn has bidded $44.2billion
This is very very interesting indeed! If Microsoft gets Yahoo!! WTH??..that is going to be crazyyyyyy......Look how big Microsoft already is...and then with Facebook and Yahoo acquisition...Microsoft will have tooooo much power and control. They already own your Desktop and now they will own your Web Searches!!! Don't do it Yahoo shareholders!! Resist the evils and money temptations that Microsoft will offfer!!
Your kidding right? Microsoft to big? They are behind in this area.. Look at Google.. Get'em Microsoft.. Time for you to smell blood and go for the kill.. ;-) D/C