Execs scoff at story of Microsoft dropping $20B on search biz
All Things Digital Nov 30, 08 8:03 PM CST
(Newser)
-
A report that Microsoft will buy Yahoo's search business and give two Internet execs a 30% share is "total fiction," one of the execs tells Kara Swisher at AllThingsDigital. Swisher agrees that the $20 billion deal, reported by the London Times , is likely non-existent. After all, board member Carl Icahn would know about it—and his recent purchase of nearly seven million Yahoo shares "would smack of insider trading" if the purchase went through.
More »
Unions support
gov't-backed plan
to dodge collapse

Bloomberg Sep 27, 08 10:43 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Alitalia, the bankrupt Italian air carrier on the brink of collapse, got a reprieve today when its pilots agreed to a government-backed takeover bid by a team of business executives, Bloomberg reports. Pilots’ unions joined ground staff in approving the plan, which calls for 3,000 job cuts and longer hours for the same pay. Flight attendants’ unions are still in talks with the CAI business group.
More »
Link shows decline in businesses he's worked with

PC World Jul 19, 08 12:22 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
A new button on Yahoo's homepage links users to the company's case against activist investor Carl Icahn, PC World reports. Icahn is seeking to unseat Yahoo's board at its Aug. 1 general meeting. The page links to voting forms and leaves shareholders in no doubt how the company thinks they should vote: A purple banner carries the Icahn quote, "It's hard to understand these technology companies."
More »
Says new offer was better, but still not in shareholders' interest

Wall Street Journal Jul 13, 08 6:20 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Yahoo has rejected another takeover push, this time from Microsoft and investor Carl Icahn, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bidders gave the Internet giant less than 24 hours to decide on an offer that would sell its search component to Microsoft and the rest of the company to Icahn in a move that would have required Yahoo to dump its current board.
More »
CEO accuses
Icahn-allied giant of pretending to want deal

Wall Street Journal Jul 9, 08 8:49 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang launched a fresh offensive in the Yahoo-Microsoft war of words yesterday, reports the Wall Street Journal . Microsoft has said it would be interested in reopening merger talks if Yahoo's current board was replaced—but the Yahoo co-founder accuses the company of tactics to destabilize Yahoo without any real interest in cutting a deal.
More »
Has been recruiting partners for another effort to vivisect Yahoo

Wall Street Journal Jul 2, 08 8:18 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Microsoft is back in pursuit of Yahoo, the Wall Street Journal reports, with the company in talks with both News Corp. and Time Warner as potential partners for a restructured deal to buy the search giant . Yahoo has been in Microsoft’s sights for nearly six months, but initial efforts to buy the entire company collapsed, and Microsoft has since been looking instead to acquire the search business and spin off the rest.
More »
Company gives take on negotiation as clock ticks on Icahn proxy fight

MarketWatch Jun 30, 08 4:34 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
As it tries to fend off investor Carl Icahn's attempt to replace its board of directors, Yahoo today presented its version of buyout negotiations with Microsoft to shareholders, MarketWatch reports. Yahoo portrayed Microsoft as “unresponsive, inconsistent,” and loose on logistic details of the proposed merger. "The record casts doubt on whether Microsoft was ever committed to a whole company acquisition," its report said.
More »
Microsoft CEO once vowed to 'kill Google'

Associated Press May 4, 08 7:36 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Microsoft's Yahoo bid put CEO Steve Ballmer to the test: How much would he pay to fulfill his promise to "(expletive) kill Google"? Forty-seven billion bucks was too high, but many say he'll try again—and may have a tough time convincing investors it's all cool calculation. Microsoft still lags behind Google in search advertising, and that makes Ballmer steam, the AP reports.
More »
OPINION
Slow quarter spurs push for acquisitions

BusinessWeek Apr 25, 08 11:52 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Microsoft's first quarter saw flat sales and dipping profits, all the more reason to make nice with Yahoo, Aaron Ricadela writes in BusinessWeek. Steve Ballmer has said he is ready to walk away from the attempted takeover, but with most of Microsoft's revenue coming from smaller divisions and overseas interests, his company sorely needs a big shot in the arm.
More »
Earnings Preview
Data out tomorrow expected to be in line with analysts' expectations

Wall Street Journal Apr 21, 08 10:50 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
All eyes will be on Yahoo's first-quarter earnings report tomorrow; the company hopes to use solid results to pressure Microsoft into sweetening its takeover bid, the Wall Street Journal reports. The report comes just 2 days before Microsoft's own and 4 days before the deadline the latter set for a deal to avoid a hostile takeover. Yahoo is expected to meet modest projections for first-quarter growth.
More »
A successful system test puts Yahoo in the catbird seat with Microsoft

Wall Street Journal Apr 17, 08 8:45 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
A deal that would have Google operate Yahoo’s core search ad business may be closer now that the two have successfully tested the system, reports the Wall Street Journal. An agreement would increase Yahoo’s cash flow by as much as $1 billion annually, and give it additional leverage to fight a hostile Microsoft takeover bid—or at least boost its sale price.
More »
Microsoft likeliest buyer but battle heats up

Wall Street Journal Apr 11, 08 2:45 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Yahoo's board meets today to examine the options for avoiding a hostile takeover by Microsoft, the Wall Street Journal reports. Experts think a Microsoft grab is still the most likely scenario, but the situation has grown increasingly complicated in the midst of discussions of an AOL-Yahoo merger, Yahoo's proposed trial of Google ads, and rumors of News Corp. joining Microsoft's side.
More »
Two Internet-shaking deals stem from Microsoft-Yahoo talks

Wall Street Journal Apr 9, 08 10:34 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Two groundbreaking Internet deals are in the works, both related to Microsoft's desire to take over Yahoo, the Wall Street Journal reports. In one, Yahoo is considering combining its online operations with Time Warner's AOL. In the other, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is in talks to join Microsoft in its bid to acquire Yahoo.
More »
Stakeholder Legg Mason will support Yahoo if Microsoft tries to drop price

Wall Street Journal Apr 9, 08 11:28 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Yahoo received a tepid endorsement from its second-largest shareholder yesterday as its takeover battle with suitor Microsoft continued to heat up, the Wall Street Journa l reports. Legg Mason, which holds a 7% stake in Yahoo, said it would back an independent Yahoo before it would sell its stake at a reduced price—and Microsoft's CEO "blundered" by threatening to go that route.
More »
Game maker upbeat despite losses; rebuffs EA takeover talks

New York Times Mar 12, 08 8:25 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Videogame maker Take-Two Interactive—owner of gamer favorites Grand Theft Auto and Bioshock—said first quarter losses jumped nearly 77% to $38 million while revenue fell some 13% to $240.4 million, reports the New York Times . But the company projected an upbeat 2008 with revenues growing 40% to $1.4 billion and earnings of $1.55 per share.
More »