Yahoo Loses Leverage as Google Ad Deal Fades

Microsoft-Yahoo merge looks more likely
By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 13, 2008 7:13 AM CST
Yahoo Loses Leverage as Google Ad Deal Fades
The reception desk is shown at Google's New York offices on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008. Google Inc. says Microsoft Corp. could use its proposed $42 billion acquisition of Yahoo Inc. to gain illegal control over the Internet, underscoring the online search leader's queasiness about its two biggest rivals...   (Associated Press)

A potential advertising deal linking Google and Yahoo is losing steam because of Google's concerns over regulatory scrutiny, reports the Wall Street Journal, and that in turn removes one lever Yahoo hoped to use to boost Microsoft's buyout bid. Yahoo’s second largest shareholder, meanwhile, said yesterday that Microsoft’s takeover likely will succeed, but at a higher price than the $41.7 billion, or $31 per share, offered.

The proposed agreement with Google to outsource some advertising would provide a cash boost to Yahoo, helping drive up its value, but would risk regulatory review because of the market share the two companies control. Legg Mason placed Yahoo’s value near $40 per share, and at least one major shareholder said an offer over $35 would likely trigger the deal. (More Google stories.)

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