Icahn says Microsoft still interested in Yahoo

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp on Monday said it would be willing to reopen talks to buy all or part of Yahoo Inc , but only if a new Yahoo board is elected, a major boost for investor Carl Icahn's board slate.

Microsoft, which broke off talks in early May to buy the Internet company for $47.5 billion, said it would enter into talks immediately if a new board were elected at Yahoo's August 1 stockholder meeting.

Billionaire financier Icahn, a major Yahoo shareholder who is running a slate of candidates to replace the Yahoo board, said in an open letter released on Monday that he had spoken frequently with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer over the last week.

"Steve made it clear to me that if a new board were elected, he would be interested in discussing a major transaction with Yahoo," including purchasing either its "search" function with large financial guarantees, or an outright purchase of Yahoo, said Icahn.

Microsoft said it would be premature to discuss details, such as the price it might offer for Yahoo. It's latest offer was $33 per share, but Yahoo demanded $37.

The news sent Yahoo shares up more than 10 percent in early trading on Nasdaq, up $2.22 to $23.57. Microsoft shares were up 29 cents to $26.27.

Icahn has been highly critical of the Yahoo board and its CEO Jerry Yang in recent months, claiming the company "botched" negotiations with Microsoft.

Icahn said he would immediately move to replace Yang if his board slate were elected at the August meeting.

(Reporting by Dane Hamilton; editing by John Wallace) © Copyright 2008 Reuters. Read more

Posted on Mon, 7 Jul 2008 08:54:17 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft, Yahoo mull Media Partner Options: Sources

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By Eric Auchard and Kenneth Li

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc have been holding separate talks with other potential media partners after their negotiations with each other broke down, sources familiar with the companies' thinking said on Wednesday.
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Posted on Wed, 2 Jul 2008 23:48:03 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft is aiming again at Yahoo with new Partners

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The WSJ reports that Microsoft is apparently getting ready to try again buying Yahoo!'s search business. This turns out to become a never ending story.

Apparently Microsoft approached several media companies to strike a deal that would lead to a break up of Yahoo. Read more

Posted on Wed, 2 Jul 2008 01:45:23 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo reorganizes Businesses under Decker

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By Eric Auchard and Michele Gershberg

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc unveiled on Thursday the third phase of an extended reorganization, bolstering the operational control of President Sue Decker, as the company hones its independent strategy after rebuffing Microsoft Corp .
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Posted on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:59:50 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Conflicting reports on Microsoft, Yahoo buyout Talks

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is back in talks to buy out Yahoo Inc , technology blog TechCrunch reported on Tuesday, citing multiple unnamed sources at both companies.
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Posted on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:55:10 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

No Deal between Yahoo and Microsoft: Report

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(Reuters) - CNBC says no deal "whatsoever" on the table between Yahoo Inc and Microsoft Corp, citing unnamed sources.
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Posted on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:58:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo planning Reorganization: Report

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc is considering a reorganization to centralize its mail, search and homepage divisions into a global product organization, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, quoting people familiar with the matter.
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Posted on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:18:48 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Google sees Benefits in Yahoo ''Experiment'': Exec

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SEOUL (Reuters) - Internet service leader Google Inc believes its recent advertising deal with Yahoo Inc will be beneficial as Yahoo tries to become more profitable, a key Google executive said on Wednesday.
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Posted on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:07:49 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Google/Yahoo Deal Could Lead to Search Monopoly

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According to the American consumer institute a permanent Google/Yahoo partnership should raise concerns for consumers and businesses. ACI says that Google’s online dominance in search and advertising have reached a tipping point already.

A deal between #1 Google and #2 Yahoo would give 90% of the search market to the companies. ACI also says that since some say Google’s ad program generates twice as much money as other programs its ad revenue is likely higher than what is reported. Read more

Posted on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:50:55 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Yahoo Investor urges Board Compromise with Icahn

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By Anupreeta Das

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dissident Yahoo Inc investor Eric Jackson on Monday urged fellow shareholders to vote for a board comprising five existing directors and four nominees from billionaire investor Carl Icahn's slate.
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Posted on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:05:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft offered 9 billion in Cash for Yahoo Stake in latest Offer

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Details appeared what Microsoft offered in the last weeks before Yahoo! decided to end talks by entering an advertisement deal with Google.

Apparently Microsoft was offering $9 billion in cash and $1 billion per year in additional operating profit.
Reuters reports that in an e-mail to employees, Microsoft Platforms and Services Division President Kevin Johnson said it had offered $8 billion for a 16% stake in Yahoo! and $1 billion to buy Yahoo's search business and assume its operations. Read more

Posted on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:52:59 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Google and Yahoo announce Advertisement Agreement

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Google announced today that it has reached an agreement that gives Yahoo! the ability to use Google's search and contextual advertising technology through its AdSense for Search and AdSense for Content advertising programs.

In the whole Microsoft Yahoo! take-over madness, Yahoo! was testing Google Ads in April. Now Yahoo! is officially going to use Adsense on their search pages along with their advertisements. Read more

Posted on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:30:55 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo delivers Search Toolbar via Software Packager

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By Eric Auchard

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc has inked a deal to expand distribution of its Web search services on personal computers via a pact with software packaging firm Acresso Software, the companies said on Thursday.
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Posted on Fri, 6 Jun 2008 00:39:08 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo talks to Microsoft, trades Barbs with Icahn

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By Michele Gershberg and Paul Thomasch

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc said on Wednesday that deal talks are ongoing with Microsoft Corp as the company resisted an attack by billionaire critic Carl Icahn, who called its recent actions "deceitful."
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Posted on Thu, 5 Jun 2008 01:20:47 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo to sell Display Advertising for Walmart.com

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(Reuters) - Yahoo will sell display advertising for Walmart.com and will become the exclusive portal to resell Walmart.com's display inventory, Yahoo said on Wednesday.
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Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2008 09:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

CBS and Yahoo in Web Video Sharing Deal

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - CBS Corp said on Wednesday it reached a deal to allow its Web videos to be carried by Yahoo Inc , part of a broader plan by the media company to add new outlets for its television shows.
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Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2008 08:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo sets August 1 Date for Annual Meeting Showdown

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By Eric Auchard and Michele Gershberg

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc on Tuesday set its annual shareholder meeting on for August 1 in the heart of Silicon Valley, as it braced for a showdown with billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn, who is mounting a proxy fight for control of Yahoo.
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Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2008 04:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo readied Plan to reject Microsoft Bid: Papers

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By Eric Auchard

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc CEO Jerry Yang ordered up a draft press release rejecting a Microsoft Corp takeover bid months before January's unsolicited bid, company documents unsealed on Monday show.
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Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008 22:49:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hi-tech CEOs offer Yahoo, Microsoft Merger Advice

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By Eric Auchard

CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc seem to hang out in all the same places but somehow keep missing each other.
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Posted on Thu, 29 May 2008 23:38:16 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Yahoo says Microsoft no longer keen to merge

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By Eric Auchard

CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc Chief Executive Jerry Yang said on Wednesday a potential deal with Microsoft has tremendous power, but the software giant appears no longer interested in a full merger.
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Posted on Wed, 28 May 2008 23:24:29 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft's Ozzie says Yahoo would be Accelerator

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By Daisuke Wakabayashi

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's attempt to strike a deal with Yahoo Inc is an "accelerator" of its online strategy, but not the entire vision, the company's top software executive said on Wednesday.
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Posted on Wed, 28 May 2008 13:11:05 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr