Microsoft Proposes New Deal With Yahoo

Microsoft has provided a brief statement this evening regarding the Yahoo deal. Good gosh, will this go on all year? This time it looks like they are pursuing a "transaction" which could mean a million different things. Perhaps an acquisition of the advertising arm of Yahoo and let Yahoo focus on the content and developer side of the business. Perhaps it’s the opposite where Microsoft will acquire the services and Yahoo will remain with the advertising components? My guess is that using the word transaction means Microsoft is looking to acquire some part of Yahoo’s offering. Looks like this story still hasn’t concluded nor will it anytime soon. If you held a gun to my head, I’d bet it’s the Yahoo-Google search advertising deal we’ve been hearing about lately - Microsoft wants to replace Google in the deal.

Here’s the statement:

“In light of developments since the withdrawal of the Microsoft proposal to acquire Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft announced that it is continuing to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online services and advertising business.  Microsoft is considering and has raised with Yahoo! an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo! but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo!  Microsoft is not proposing to make a new bid to acquire all of Yahoo! at this time, but reserves the right to reconsider that alternative depending on future developments and discussions that may take place with Yahoo! or discussions with shareholders of Yahoo! or Microsoft or with other third parties. 

“There of course can be no assurance that any transaction will result from these discussions.”

Side note - what’s up with Microsoft doing everything on the weekends!