Archive for the 'Yahoo' Category

Microsoft and Yahoo - the dance continues.

Today Silicon Valley blog TechCrunch cited sources who indicated that Microsoft and Yahoo were discussing a full buyout.
It still remains to be seen if in fact discussions are in the works.  Yahoo’s stock price bounced as investors heard the rumors that Microsoft is once-again courting the Internet pioneer.
Neither company would comment on what, [...]

Will Microsoft buy Yahoo? $50B is the right number.

Will Microsoft make a new bid for Yahoo?  It’s hard to tell. Certainly, not much has changed fundamentally on this deal.
We think that the compelling reasons for this merger are still valid and Microsoft is just playing hardball while watching Yahoo stumble.  It may be well deserved.  Jerry Yang has particularly poor negotiation skills (he [...]

Yahoo postpones shareholder meeting to stall for more time?

Yahoo has postponed their annual shareholder meeting, originally set for July 3, until the end of July to give regulators more time to review documents tied to the board election, the company said today in a corporate filing.
The stated motivation for the postponement is questionable. We think it could be:

Jerry Yang stalling for more time [...]

Yang’s last chance for Yahoo

In a brief statement Sunday, Microsoft announced it was proposing a new arrangement with Yahoo that would not be an outright acquisition of the company. Yahoo said late Sunday that its board would give any proposal due consideration. Both companies have declined to elaborate.
Still hoping to jump-start its own Internet ad business, Microsoft has floated [...]

Microsoft considers new Yahoo deal

Microsoft Corp., the software maker that said it had moved on after acquisition talks with Yahoo! Inc. failed, revived the possibility that the companies may strike a deal to challenge Google Inc.
Microsoft said yesterday that it is exploring an agreement with Yahoo that stops short of a full acquisition. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft didn’t elaborate on [...]

Icahn to spank Yang?

BeyondGenius.com knew that the Microsoft-Yahoo deal would go through, but we didn’t see the introduction of Carl Icahn, the enigmatic billionaire activist investor, who is considering whether to mount a proxy fight to take control of board seats at Yahoo.
Late last week, Icahn built a significant position in Yahoo that may be as much as [...]

Jerry Yang sings a new song: the blues

Never mind that it was a bad idea.
Never mind that the combination of Microsoft and Yahoo will be less of a company than the two companies separately.
The fact is that Microsoft bid for Yahoo and even raised its offer in the 11th hour with Microsoft ultimately offering $33 per share, but Yahoo wouldn’t bite.
Chairman Jerry [...]

Is buying Yahoo crazy?

$41 billion.
I mean, let’s take a moment and think about this. $41 Billion.
Yahoo sells about $7B, has gross profit of about $4B, and net income of about $0.7B.
Let’s be generous and say they net about $1B today.
This means that Microsoft will be getting a 2.5% return on this investment if things remain the same.
Of course [...]

Heads roll at Microsoft

There’s a general house cleaning going on at Microsoft these days.  However, like most corporate purgings, it leaves the biggest problem remaining at the top.
The announcements were part of a broad management reorganization involving seven new senior vice presidents and seven new corporate vice presidents.
We’ve elaborated about the lack of vision and leadership at Microsoft, [...]

Yahoo tells Microsoft to kiss off

Yahoo turned down Microsoft’s unsolicited $44.6 billion takeover bid.
Yahoo deemed the offer inadequate.
Never mind that it is a stupid idea and will ruin both companies while providing no increase in shareholder value.
Never mind that it would put “America’s worst CEO”, Steve Ballmer in charge of the number 2 and 3 internet search companies. Steve doesn’t [...]