Shareholder Backs Yahoo!, Supports Independence

mikkl666 writes "In a follow-up to yesterday's story about the struggle between Microsoft and Yahoo!, major Yahoo! shareholder Legg Mason has announced that they are ready to back the company in their effort to keep out of Microsoft's grip. According to portfolio manager Bill Miller, 'the problem is Microsoft blundered with the letter this weekend. Telling the shareholders you're going to take something away from them is not a way to get their support'. Nevertheless, he believes Microsoft will end up paying what it takes to own Yahoo."

Comments

Bummer

[garett_spencley]

So no Yahoo! logo dressed up as a borg then ? :(

Re:What is MS hoping to gain exactly?

[explosivejared]

Is it just me, or is there only chaos and mayhem in store if MS tries to merge with Yahoo?

Well that's what everyone around here is hoping. As for the other part of your post, this has nothing to do with technology. It has to do with market positioning and mind share. Microsoft wants to consolidate the online Yahoo! brand, which has a big following, with the MSN brand, which has had mixed results. This consolidation, in Microsoft's mind, will prime them for competition with Google.

If Microsoft aquires yahoo, then you can be sure that all of yahoo's open source stuff will be buried unceremoniously. So from a technical standpoint, it probably is a nightmare for yahoo, but, again, this isn't about technology. It's all about marketing.

Re:It's a start

[RobBebop]

I have no idea who Legg Mason is, or what influence he has

Legg Mason is an investment firm that owns a 6% stake of Yahoo.

This is actually 83,843,501 votes AGAINST the current MSFT offer.