DailyTech - Ballmer: Yahoo Search Appealing, Complete Takeover Isn't

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Internet Ballmer: Yahoo Search Appealing, Complete Takeover Isn't
Michael Barkoviak - November 20, 2008 8:16 AM

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5 comment(s) - last by Smilin.. on Nov 20 at 9:34 PM

Steve Ballmer speaks out regarding a possible Yahoo takeover

Outspoken Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today said Microsoft is interested in a possible Web search partnership with Yahoo, but ruled out a complete takeover of the struggling company.

"Let me be as clear as I think I've tried to be publicly," Ballmer said during the Microsoft annual shareholders meeting. "We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo. I've said that a bunch of times. Somehow some people have gotten confused nonetheless."

After Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang's announcement earlier in the week he would step down once a replacement was found, an immediate buzz about a possible Microsoft-Yahoo partnership began to circulate yet again.

Yang and company turned down a $47.5 billion takeover from Microsoft earlier in the year, claiming the number "undervalued" Yahoo. Since then, the company's stock has slid down hill as Yang continued to lose control over the company.

Instead of selling its search business to Microsoft, Yahoo reached a search advertising accord with Google, which fell apart because of legal threats by the U.S. antitrust regulators. The Justice Department was concerned Google, the no. 1 web search company, would have an unfair advantage if it worked with Yahoo, which remains the No. 2 search engine in the world, despite continually losing market share.

Even if Microsoft acquires Yahoo's search technology, another company could come in and try to make an offer for the rest of Yahoo, analysts predict. Microsoft and Yahoo are not discussing a search deal at the moment, Ballmer said, but Microsoft will likely wait until Yahoo has chosen a new CEO.

Ballmer's announcement caused Yahoo's shares to drop 14.5 percent, or $1.67, down to $9.88.

Analysts warn that Ballmer could be positioning Microsoft to be able to later purchase Yahoo at a lower price, which would allow the company to strengthen its online search and advertising businesses at an even lower price.

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In other words..

By quiksilvr on 11/20/2008 12:33:20 PM , Rating: 2

Microsoft is waiting for Yahoo to go down even further to a point when they can buy them for dirt cheap. I doubt they're waiting for a new CEO.

RE: In other words..

By InternetGeek on 11/20/2008 5:11:33 PM , Rating: 3

I hope they don't buy them at all. Period. Beyond some financial pages, ad space and indexes for their search engine, Microsoft wouldn't gain much, technically, from Yahoo. Just do a show of hands of how many people in your office use yahoo compared with google or live and you would see the point.

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RE: In other words..

By TomZ on 11/20/2008 5:40:24 PM , Rating: 2

By purchasing Yahoo, they immediately gain Yahoo's search marketshare. That's the value of Yahoo - not the technology. Microsoft doesn't give a hoot about the technology. It's about buying customers.

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MS hasn't flinched since Yahoo! first said no..

By Smilin on 11/20/2008 9:34:08 PM , Rating: 3

"We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo."

"Let me be as clear as I think I've tried to be publicly,
We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo."

"We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo. I've said that a bunch of times. Somehow some people have gotten confused nonetheless."

"Analysts warn that Ballmer could be positioning Microsoft to be able to later purchase Yahoo at a lower price"

"English mother@&#$! do you speak it? We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo!"

/facepalm.

strategy

By xsilver on 11/20/2008 10:52:28 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Ballmer's announcement caused Yahoo's shares to drop 14.5 percent, or $1.67, down to $9.88.

and on the first day microsoft said takeover
and on the second day yahoo said NO WAY
and on the third day microsoft said SMELLS YA
and on the fourth day yahoo went BOO HOO - I lost my $$
and on the fifth day microsoft said "we're not ever buying yahoo"
and on the sixth day yahoo begged and begged as their stock went down and down
and on the seventh day microsoft bought them CHEAP!

After a $47 billion dollar bid they would be crazy not to buy them for $15 billion or less? I mean its not like they found out that they were cooking the books?