Microsoft, Yahoo Explore Alternatives
by
Ken Schachter
on
03 July 2008, 11:41
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Microsoft and Yahoo, whose courtship is on the rocks, are pursuing flirtations with a bunch of alternative players, according to reports.
Yahoo is said to be continuing discussions with Time Warner about a possible merger with its AOL unit. Also, Microsoft is reported to be in talks about a hookup with Time Warner as well as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., the parent of social network MySpace.
Reports first surfaced in The Wall Street Journal.
At least some of the scenarios would have Microsoft joining with Time Warner or News Corp. in a new run at Yahoo.
On January 29, Microsoft went public with a $44.6 billion takeover bid for Yahoo. Two months later, negotiations foundered, though the embers still smolder.
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has mounted a proxy fight to unseat Yahoo’s nine-member board to dislodge Chief Executive Jerry Yang. Should he win, Mr. Icahn has said he would signal to Microsoft that Yahoo is ready to make a friendly deal.
In a bid to defuse the showdown, Yahoo is offering Mr. Icahn two board seats, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, quoting unnamed sources, however, said that Mr. Icahn is seeking four seats.