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Microsoft Bids $44.6 Billion For Yahoo

The news is everywhere this morning about Microsoft's $44.6B offer to buy Yahoo. The offer represents $31 a share, a 62% premium over Thursday's closing price; and Yahoo's stock price has been rising in after-hours trading. Microsoft has been making overtures to Yahoo since 2006, according to the CNet article, including a buyout offer last February that was rebuffed. Mediapost.com has some perspective on the deal from the point of view of ads and eyeballs. Such an acquisition, which would be Microsoft's largest by far — it bought Aquantive last year for $6 billion — would need approval by US and EU authorities. A European Commission spokesman declined to comment.

14 of 784 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft is "innovating" again... by rinkjustice · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yahoo confirmed that it has received an unsolicited offer and said that its board would evaluate the proposal, "carefully and promptly in the context of Yahoo's strategic plans and pursue the best course of action to maximize long-term value for shareholders."

    Judging by this blurb, I think the answer is going to be a big, fat yes.

  2. Pirate Bay by rdradar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now MS should bid for Pirate Bay aswell!

  3. Priceless quote. by jwietelmann · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the article:

    "Today, the market is increasingly dominated by one player, who is consolidating its dominance through acquisition," Microsoft said.
    Sound like anyone you know?
  4. Re:Letter from Ballmer to Yahoo! Board by DaveM753 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey, Ballmer: I can help with your goal of making "a more efficient" company. Instead of using buzzwords like "this proposal represents a compelling value realization event for your shareholders", you could say something like "this is a good deal for your shareholders."

    Eliminating unnecessary, extraneous keystrokes on a corporate scale represents a compelling efficiency realization event for your shareholders.

    So there. :P

  5. Re:Very odd by dintech · · Score: 5, Funny

    Google has always been a spammer heaven for me too
    Everyone knows spammers don't go to heaven.
  6. I for one... by Zarf · · Score: 4, Funny

    I for one... welcome our new yodeling software overlords.

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  7. Hmmm..... by 8127972 · · Score: 4, Funny

    In this story:

    http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/299523

    Ballmer makes this comment:

    " Signalling Microsoft doesn't intend to take no for an answer, Ballmer wrote that the company "reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that Yahoo's shareholders are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in our proposal.""

    My question is how many chairs does that involve?

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    This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
  8. Re:Very odd by somersault · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of cros they do! Evey night heavn with the ladeis you can have too if you purchaise soft Cililiaolois!!! Only 49c a pill!

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    which is totally what she said
  9. Re:Fate of Flickr? by MrNemesis · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you kidding? A Silverlight-only, ActiveX-only-upload Flickr would absolutely *rock*! I can't think of a better way to gain marketshare.

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    Moderation Total: -1 Troll, +3 Goat
  10. Re:Very odd by MrNemesis · · Score: 5, Funny

    M$ fails in the add market

    You've used Excel too?

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  11. Flickr deletes anti-Microsoft threads by quinnanya · · Score: 4, Funny

    As of a half hour ago, there were multiple anti-Microsoft threads in the help forum and elsewhere. Now they're nowhere to be found...

  12. Re:Fate of Flickr? by JavaLord · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you kidding? A Silverlight-only, ActiveX-only-upload Flickr would absolutely *rock*! I can't think of a better way to gain marketshare.

    The real key would be to make it IE 7 only. That way people would only experience Flickr with a top notch browser, thus enhancing the Flickr brand!

  13. Re:And then there were two by paeanblack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could you please explain where search isn't good enough? Google works well enough for me (and just about everyone I know). I've never really sat back and thought, "Damn, I wish there was some better search engine out there."

    This is when I will be impressed...

    http://pics.nerdnirvana.org/d/1406-1/myhouse_google_com.jpg

  14. Re:Pot, kettle, very black. by vhogemann · · Score: 4, Funny

    When you're talking about the Microsft's evil twin from the mirror universe... See, an $ is just a S with a goatee.

    The only problem is that M$ actually makes money on OpenSource software and services, and it's founder is a bald and well shaved Robert Stalman, AKA M$ Bob. ;-)

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    ---- You know how some doctors have the Messiah complex - they need to save the world? You've got the "Rubik's" complex