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CONFIRMED: Microsoft-Yahoo in Negotiations, Price Up 'Several Dollars'

Posted May 02, 2008 03:55pm EDT by Henry Blodget in Investing, Internet, Venture Capital, M and A, IPOs

From Silicon Alley Insider, May 2, 2008:

UPDATE: The WSJ has confirmed our earlier assumption: Microsoft has been silent because Microsoft and Yahoo are now negotiating seriously about consummating a friendly deal. Microsoft has raised its bid "by several dollars."

According to the WSJ, a "deal was not imminent and the people familiar with the matter said an agreement was not likely on Friday. The people cautioned that the talks could fail to produce an accord."

The NYT adds that Microsoft has increased its price by "several dollars" (presumably to $32-$33). Yahoo's stock, which has been climbing all day, has now spiked.

EARLIER: Some folks seem to be under the impression that Microsoft (MSFT) is having trouble making up its mind about what to do about Yahoo (YHOO) and that that's why we haven't heard anything.

Please.

The silence suggests that two companies are negotiating furiously behind the scenes. The fact that CNBC's David Faber was able to report this morning that we won't hear anything until the weekend (if then) suggests that the companies have found--or are close to finding--common ground.

In fact, the longer the silence lasts, the more likely we are to get a deal. The companies are very close--$33 and $37, per the Journal--so a deal seems likely even without serious negotiations. But at this point, if there were any true deal-killers on either side, Microsoft already would have walked (or gone hostile or whatever).

110 Comments

Dre
Dre - Friday May 02, 2008 04:03PM EDT

The deal will get done at $36 mark my word.

rollingstonegathersnomoss
rollingstonegathersnomoss - Friday May 02, 2008 04:08PM EDT

I say $35 as they split the difference .......this is getting old

you
Yahoo! Finance User - Friday May 02, 2008 04:09PM EDT

$35.

you
Blake - Friday May 02, 2008 04:13PM EDT

I say $35, and thats the final offer.

you
z06kiler - Friday May 02, 2008 04:18PM EDT

just strike a deal already and make us some money....

you
KS - Friday May 02, 2008 04:21PM EDT

$37 ... no less

you
J K - Friday May 02, 2008 04:22PM EDT

Balmer is an idiot. There is still time to walk away. Who gives rats ass to Jerry Stinking Young..

Frank
Frank - Friday May 02, 2008 04:24PM EDT

35$ is where i'm betting.

you
platoprez - Friday May 02, 2008 04:24PM EDT

They should walk away and buy them next year for $25.00

Robert S
Robert S - Friday May 02, 2008 04:25PM EDT

I've said 34-35 right from the beginning. The number depends on who blinks first.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Friday May 02, 2008 04:26PM EDT

okay, this joke has gone far enough, the whole acquisition thing. MSFT shouldn't be walking away from the YHOO deal--it should be running away, in my opinion... but right now, assuming MSFT *really* wants YHOO, I think it's cheaper to just oust the YHOO board now, since that's what will happen anyways, if MSFT ever does acquire YHOO.

aj_in_charlotte
aj_in_charlotte - Friday May 02, 2008 04:28PM EDT

MSFT walks away and people cry about why they didn't sell their Yahoo

isyck21
isyck21 - Friday May 02, 2008 04:31PM EDT

I would like to see the deal get done at $54. More than likely it will only get to $47

you
TOM - Friday May 02, 2008 04:31PM EDT

The deal will be done at $37+..... Say what you will, but , there exists a symbiotic relationship between the two giants.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Friday May 02, 2008 04:33PM EDT

$33 no deal $35 should think $37 should bargain $40 God help Y!

you
just a man - Friday May 02, 2008 04:33PM EDT

Walk away at $33.00. Declare a special $5.00 dividend on the stock, then buy'em for $25.00 in six month.

you
Andy L - Friday May 02, 2008 04:35PM EDT

pleaseeeee ask the two guys to put their hands down. They just look so awful with those hand movements.

you
gendarae1 - Friday May 02, 2008 04:37PM EDT

I agree, Microsoft should do the right thing for its shareholders and walk away from the little babies that run yahoo. Then come back next year and offer $15.00

you
M A - Friday May 02, 2008 04:38PM EDT

I'll take $37

herothydragon
herothydragon - Friday May 02, 2008 04:40PM EDT

if MSFT go hostile, would your yahoo share holders sell or hold?

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