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Microsoft, Yahoo End Talks, Rule Out Merger

Weekend meeting torpedoes hopes of a merger

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 12, 2008 3:32 PM CDT

(Newser) – Looks like a Microsoft-Yahoo marriage is off—for good this time, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a meeting last weekend, Microsoft representatives stated “unequivocally” that the software giant was not interested in purchasing all of Yahoo for any price. Yahoo then ruled out an alternative of selling Microsoft only its search business.

The upshot? The courtship, which Microsoft saw as necessary to compete with Google, has instead pushed Yahoo into its rival's waiting arms, the Journal notes. Analysts believe that a Google-Yahoo partnership, which could be announced soon, will significantly increase Yahoo’s ad revenues by using Google’s more profitable system.

The Yahoo offices in Santa Clara, Calif. Yahoo says it has ended all talks about any kind of business deal with Microsoft.
The Yahoo offices in Santa Clara, Calif. Yahoo says it has ended all talks about any kind of business deal with Microsoft.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.   (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang.
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Projected images of Google and Yahoo.
Projected images of Google and Yahoo.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, left, and Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, left, and Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang.   (AP Photo)
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