• 01 Jul 2008 at 2:31 PM

Yahoo + AOL minus Yang + Decker?

By Dealbreaker

Yesterday, we broke down Yahoo’s proxy presentation to shareholders in their attempt at “setting the record straight.” MarketWatch, Henry Blodget, and Portfolio have additional takes on the presentation.
All seem to be in agreement that Yahoo blew the initial deal with Microsoft back in February. Neither Microsoft, nor Icahn have responded to Yahoo’s filing yet.
Meanwhile, Kara Swisher is reporting that Yahoo’s board and major investors are discussing several options for the company, one of which could be the removal of Yang and President Sue Decker. Such a removal would be “a friendly or non-friendly approach” with Yang stepping aside to become a “non-executive chairman” in the former scenario.
The two likely replacements that are mentioned most appear to be Ross Levinsohn, former President of Fox Interactive Media, and Jon Miller, an ex-AOL chairman.
With its stock continuing to stumble, Yahoo has also revived talks with Time Warner about acquiring AOL. Microsoft will be hotly contesting that one, as they will not want to strike out on a second potential online advertising property and fall further behind Google and Co. With significantly more cash reserves at their (Microsoft’s) disposal, I’d say this is highly unlikely to go down.
Yahoo could try to get Microsoft to sweeten their deal, remove Yang and Decker to placate investors, and cut jobs while refocusing the business to drive up cost savings and ultimately, the stock price.
– Senior Yacrosoft correspondent Travis

Comments (11)

  1. 1
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 2:36 PM

    Travis – chill out with Yahoo and Microsoft. No one cares.

  2. 2
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 2:58 PM

    YHOO is screwed, whatever they do. MSFT is not coming back.

  3. 3
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 2:59 PM

    The skills needed to build a company like Yahoo are not the same skills needed when someone comes a courtin’.
    ~Fake John Fitzgerald Page

  4. 4
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 3:10 PM

    After being laid off by a large Wall Street firm I have decided to take an associate’s position with Walmart. I heard they give paid breaks and training so it might be a good “port in a storm” don’t you know.

  5. 5
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 3:33 PM

    Sweeten the deal?
    YHOO can consider themselves damn lucky at this point if MSFT comes back with an offer that is half of their original one.
    Committing suicide by signing an ad deal that gives away the store to Google tends to scare away potential suitors.

  6. 6
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 4:12 PM

    Yahoo + Yang + AOL = Mayo

  7. 7
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 4:13 PM

    zzzzzzzz — this is dealbreaker, not the associated press!!

  8. 8
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 4:47 PM

    Shouldn’t it be Yahoo + AOL minus (Yang + Decker)? Order of operations, people.

  9. 9
    Posted by big r | July 1, 2008 at 4:51 PM

    well done 4:47. ms galagher from 5th grade is proud.

  10. 10
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 5:00 PM

    Looks like their “back end” is down again. I am speculating on that but that is what I do for a living.

  11. 11
    Posted by guest | July 1, 2008 at 8:44 PM

    Yo…Travis. YHOO is fucked. Get it?

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