Yahoo: Microsoft doesn't want us anymore

Updated 12:05 p.m. with Yahoo confirming talks concluded; 12:45 p.m. with additional details, Microsoft comment.

Microsoft's efforts to reach some sort of arrangement with Yahoo have broken down again, Yahoo confirmed on Thursday.

The search company said that, at a meeting on June 8, Microsoft indicated that it is no longer interested in Yahoo even at the $33 a share it had previously said it was willing to pay.

"The conclusion of discussions follows numerous meetings and conversations with Microsoft regarding a number of transaction alternatives, including a meeting between Yahoo and Microsoft on June 8, in which Chairman Roy Bostock and other independent Board members from Yahoo participated," Yahoo said in a statement. "At that meeting, Microsoft representatives stated unequivocally that Microsoft is not interested in pursuing an acquisition of all of Yahoo, even (in) the price range it had previously suggested."

Yahoo said it also decided that a search-only deal with Microsoft is not in its best interest. "With respect to an acquisition of Yahoo's search business alone that Microsoft had proposed, Yahoo's board of directors has determined, after careful evaluation, that such a transaction would not be consistent with the company's view of the converging search and display marketplaces, would leave the company without an independent search business that it views as critical to its strategic future, and would not be in the best interests of Yahoo stockholders."

Yahoo's shares dropped more than 12 percent following the news, changing hands recently at $23.05, down $3.10.

The announcement comes as Yahoo and Google are set to announce a search deal of their own, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Microsoft said in a statement that it although it is not interested in renewing its bid for Yahoo, "our alternative transaction remains available for discussion."

"In the weeks since Microsoft withdrew its offer to acquire Yahoo, the two companies have continued to discuss an alternative transaction that Microsoft believes would have delivered in excess of $33 per share to the Yahoo shareholders," Microsoft said. "This partnership would ensure healthy competition in the marketplace, providing greater choice and innovation for advertisers, publishers and consumers."

Just ahead of Yahoo's formal announcement, The Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site that talks had broken down Microsoft's public position for some time has been that it was no longer interested in an outright acquisition, though executives said the company was "reserving the right" to renew its bid.

Yahoo had originally hoped to make its announcement after the markets closed and in conjunction with its Google advertising deal, a separate source told CNET News.com.

"The hope was to announce them together to help (cushion) the stock," the source said.

During the weeks that Microsoft and Yahoo have been discussing alternative deals, at no point did Microsoft offer any buyout price--at any price, noted the source.

Yahoo, which is trying to fend off a proxy fight from Carl Icahn, will be embarking on a road show with investors and would have likely felt some pressure from shareholders to explain where things stood with Microsoft. However, the source said that the announcement was not timed because of the road show.

Microsoft went public with a $31-per-share offer for Yahoo on February 1, but it was rebuffed. In May, it indicated its willingness to go up to $33 per share, but it pulled its bid on May 3. The companies later said they were in talks on a deal short of an acquisition, though Yahoo also said it continued to pursue its talks with Google.

News.com's Dawn Kawamoto contributed to this report.

[Vegaman_Dan]

There wasa great hue and cry about how terrible it would to have Microsoft buy Yahoo as the dead weight that is Yahoo would drag anyone down. People railed against this from happening, saying it would be full of anti-trust issues of MS bought them.

I'll be curious to see if these same people say the same thing about a Google/Yahoo combination, or will we see a double standard being employed?

Just curious.

[Penguinisto]

Depends on the nature of the deal and what it entails. There's a vast difference between a partnership and an attempt of one corp to buy its competitor. IOW, it's not a double standard because they're not even classified as the same type of transaction

[Renegade Knight]

Who knows. Google Yahoo would bring anti trust issues to the table. Microhoo let Microsoft come up from behind since their future is closer to google or yahoo than Microsofts former biz itself.

As for my own Opinion. MS, Google, Yahoo. All need to find their own way. One thing, while I don't like MS much I'd trust them more with my "Cloud Computing" than the other two. They still have opportunity.

[Seaspray0]

Others have been assuming that a buyout of yahoo from microsoft was almost a guarantee should Icahn take control of the board in August. My guess was microsoft would not be interested anymore. Whoo Hooo! I was right! ...like it really matters to anyone but me, but it's still more fun when you guess right. So... what do you think Icahn will do now?

[jamalystic]

I really don't see this perceived force buy-out of Yahoo as being the trolly to help Microsoft in the online business. I think Microsoft still has a decent online future even without yahoo. Microsoft just needs to adapt itself to the present digital landscape rather that being obsessed with buying Yahoo, which to me does not help them mount a serois challenge to Google as pointed out in this article: Microsoft's online Future: Forecast Hazy ( http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=466&doc_id=152918&F_src=flftwo)

[Penguinisto]

About damned time... now, let us get back to business, eh? Let MSFT actually create innovation (for once) instead of trying to buy it up in a desperate bid to try to compete with market leaders.

[slimeslayer]

hmmmm.....sounds to me like google has been buying even more companies than MS in the last couple of years...so lets be fair

[Seaspray0]

Penquisto, I agree to an extent. MS should concentrate more effort into their core products rather than try to be the "end all, be everywhere." Had they done so, vista would have been much better than what it is now. But unlike you, I don't believe they are a bunch of idiots, either. You just refuse to acknowlege any of their innovation. Well, actually you did once which just ruined your "(for once)" comment.

[Penguinisto]

I don't consider them idiots (far from it, in fact), just that they happen to be very, very good at taking credit for others' work (or simply buying it, or appropriating it a'la the BSD license and burying the credits, etc).

[Penguinisto]

A second thought that requires separate space... MSFt has been casting about for other markets for awhile now, and IMHO for a very good reason. Operating Systems and Office apps are commodities, and have been for awhile. It only makes money under one of two conditions: 1) when you have a monopoly lock-in where you can charge massive amounts for it, or 2) you blend it in with something else (service, as part of a whole package, etc). MSFt has known for a very long time that their business model isn;t sustainable over the long term - eventually the monopoly and marketshare would crumble (which has begun in earnest), and just selling proprietary software doesn't cut it in an age where everyone is seeking openness and transparency in the way things handle their data. This is (partially) why MSFT is busily trying to diversify. So far, not very well, but you gotta give 'em points for trying...

[alegr]

MS buying YHOO just never have had much sense. For that crazy money MS could have fixed their problems by themselves. In a few years it will be consided a best thing that happened to MS. Nor does it make sense for Google to buy it; they're doing just fine without, thanks.

[technewsjunkie]

Dear Vegetable,

I would rather see Google and Yahoo than Microsoft and anyone. Yahoo rejected Microsoft, again. Also, was that your MS spell checker you used?

[wango2007]

So, Google is going to be infiltrating ads into Yahoo like the Iranians are infiltrating roadside bombs into Iraq. Good move, Jerry. Now you are just a toady of someone more powerful who ultimately wants to conquer you too.

Yahoo is officially dead meat. Total collapse may take a year or so, but it's a goner.

[Penguinisto]

I suspect that MSFt will meet the same fate in the search arena. They probably won't close their doors next year for Search (they have enough dough to animate the Live Search corpse for a very long time). OTOH, in spite of being the big fat default, MSN is pretty much cast aside in favor of Google as part of most Windows users' first actions with a new browser install.

[techforward]

Yahoo just gave google a bigger share of the search market. Is this an admission that Yahoo's new platform is not beating google? And what about Yang & Decker - will they go down as the worst management team in history for botching a buyout opportunity? Time will tell how this plays out, but my bet is that this is the beginning of the long, slow demise of Yahoo. And here's a question - had you invested in Yahoo would you really care about much other than getting a good return on your money? Probably not.

[JCPayne]

*YAWN* Yahoo is like the 2nd most visited website on the planet.... Microsoft walking away is GREAT news... They would have dragged Yahoo down.... I predict they just want Yahoo's stock to fall a little before they move in to snap up more shares....

[make_or_break]

Yahoo doesn't need Microsoft or anyone else to drag its sorry butt down. They aren't worth $31 a share, let alone the idiotic $33 that Ballmer pulled off the table. They've already conceded that they're no match for Google, and only out of brand loyalty are they even ahead of MSFT.

Besides, if anything Redmond actually going through and purchasing Yahoo would've spelled a quicker end to the BUYER.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Google+Yahoo = 90% of search. Its a monopoly. People that think that Google are the good guys and Microsoft are bad guys have a over simplistic view.

Its all about monopolies not being good. Microsoft has a monopoly in the OS business and Google has a 71% (at last check) monopoly of internet search. Monopolies are bad for business, bad for consumers. Monopolies limit choice, make companies complacent to customer needs, stifle growth. There is a cannibalistic cycle in all business at the moment and it will continue for some time.

Google most recently rubbed me the wrong way with shoving their toolbar down my throat. Try Installing flash, shockwave, acrobat reader, or Java without installing the Google toolbar. The checkbox is always there and checked by default (unless you already have Google toolbar). "Do no evil" perhaps, but apparently annoying is OK

[The_Decider]

Market share is not the only measure of a monopoly. In fact, by itself 90% market share does not make a monopoly.

Is unchecking a box so difficult for you?

Given your lack of understanding about monopolies and the operation of a mouse, you might want to consider some more education to help you out.

[The_Decider]

Yahoo is bigger than MS on the internet.

MS thinks it needs Yahoo to compete.

Yahoo knows it doesn't need MS.

This was inevitable.

Microsoft is the slowest company in the tech world. They also have the least vision. They still don't understand why the Web was so successful or the Webs place in the future.

This is why they fail.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

I had to smile at your post. Apparently, you feel powerful typing your little quippy lines on your computer in your underwear in your basement. You say "Market share is not the only measure of a monopoly", yet you fail to make any counter argument (i.e. describing other measures of monopoly), then continue to insult me. Tepid, slightly funny, but you really need a life

[robvme]

As if Microsoft really wanted to buy Yahoo in the first place. This was a well orchestrated plan to put Yahoo and Jerry on the defense, maneuver them into a corner with Google, and open them up to massive lawsuits. Do you really think that if Microsoft really wanted Yahoo that they wouldn't up the bid? No, everyone is missing the point. Microsoft studied, analyzed, and simulated various scenarios that would get Jerry to move in the direction they desired. Jerry runs Yahoo with his emotion, not with any kind of business acumen. Microsoft probably had to do minimal profiling on Jerry.
This was a brilliant move by Microsoft. Now, Yahoo will be so busy with shareholder discontent, anti-trust, and Ichan, that they will be lucky to make their quarterly goals. Not to mention that if they really go forward with the Google partnership, they are sure to create a regulatory mess for themselves in the US, but don't forget the EU. But wait, Google must be playing into this too, surely there is a trap for them somewhere if they happen to corner 90% of the market share. Remember, Microsoft went thru this, do you really think they haven't learned anything from that experience? It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Yahoo is in for some tough times and it won't be a cake walk for Microsof to catch up while all of this is going on, but catch up they will and when that happens, well, all I can think of is Netscape, AOL, Lycos, Netware, Sun, Oracle, IBM, Xerox and the list goes on. Don't forget, that Microsoft has the most visited web properties on the Internet too, it would be a mistake to underestimate them.

[The_Decider]

That is based on the assumption that MS is competent. Ballmer has put his job on the line over this mess and what if Yahoo accepted the bid? Would MS pull out? That would put them in serious hot water. Your belief that MS is this genius business organization is amusing but has no basis in fact. Microsoft is a bit player and always will be.

[skeleton69]

i can't believe that ballmer might not still harbor a desire to takeover yahoo after that damn beta-male jerry yang stymied him.

These local Seattle/Microsoft guys have a pretty funny bit poking fun at Yahoo's actual worth. Worth checking out at least.

http://www.seattleuntimely.com

[fdunn3]

It is just funny (not being a shareholder in Yahoo) watch as the announcents are being made and what it is simultaeusly to the value of Yahoo, MS, and Google's stock values.
When Yahoo finally disapproved the sale of it's search business in favor of outsourcing it to Google it is apparent that Yahoo's stock value is going down on heavy trading. At the same time Microsoft and Google's stock values rose.
That was of Friday afternoon's stock exchange close. This morning I anticipate seeing the volume of Yahoo stock being traded peaking while shareholders try to squeeze what little value is left out of Yahoo. That being said, a heavily sold/traded stock value decreases as the panic stricken holders try to get what they can over the price of Yahoo's stock before the original Microsoft offer (`$19/share). With Friday's closing offering prices for Yahoo were at $22.75 and with the high volume today after Yahoo's announcements I anticipate that the volume will peak again this morning and close at less than when MS first made it's offer. Yahoo has very little leverage in the search business anymore and It's shareholder know they are going to take a loss if they don't get rid of the stock quickly.
Foreshadowing any miracles I see Yahoo losing even more ground and stock prices tanking at about $10/share before the year is out.