It used to be that the Microsoft-Yahoo clash seemed, at its root, a "personality conflict." Yang and Ballmer's war of words was, at one point, so pointed that Ballmer was said unable to consider an acquisition of any kind while Yang was still leading the firm. Or, that was the press version, anyhow. Around this time Microsoft spent a period in that Texas Hold'em sort of intentions limbo. When strong, attempt to appear weak, when weak, attempt to appear strong. Ballmer didn't want to advertise the degree to which he lusted after Yahoo. Nor did anyone at Microsoft want to admit that the firm was (is) dangerously close to obsolescence and irrelevance in the face of Googlesque economies (though various classes of writers literally fell over each other to point this out). So, what exactly are we to make of this:
Microsoft Corp. is no longer interested in buying all of Yahoo Inc., CEO Steve Ballmer said Wednesday, though he told shareholders that the company would still be "very open" to a collaboration on Internet search. His comments sent Yahoo shares diving by 12 percent. Or "Let me be clear," Ballmer said at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting. "We are done with all acquisition discussions with Yahoo."Yahoo spurned a $47.5 billion takeover offer from Microsoft in May, and later rejected Microsoft's bid to buy only its search engine. Ballmer has said repeatedly of late that the buyout remains off the table, though a search-related deal is possible.
Ballmer dismisses Yahoo buyout but open on search [Yahoo Finance (Ha! Ha!)]
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:02PM
Burn.
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:03PM
Jerry Yang wishes he was first to sell out to Microsoft
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:05PM
Not literally.
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:05PM
Yang is the new Fuld. I hate MSFT as much as the next guy, but he should have realized how much MSFT was overpaying.
Ballmer is right (can't believe I am saying that). He's going to go all JPM on them. Why pay up when he can just pick through the carcass?
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:06PM
So Joe Scoby gets booted from UBS executive committee....but he gave his previous job to a guy from North Carolina. Now, they're both holding the same title on the web site. Who's sucking?
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:07PM
Yang is Solly! Miclosoft please?
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:08PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTtIJWnTF_A
Jerry Yang's theme
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:08PM
Harro Yang hele. Can i speak to mr Barmer prease?
Posted by bondguy007 , Nov 19, 2008 1:09PM
Swoop in and offer $15 or less instead of the original $20 area. Good plan Gates. One step closer to taking over the world.
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:13PM
Who the f is Simon Glover? Have you seen the shit going on in Dubai with commodities? Who's the Paul Volcker of the Gulf? Stay away!
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:17PM
Good work, Steve! Pick up Yahoo for bargain basement prices!
Posted by Harald , Nov 19, 2008 1:17PM
why is this not being reported anywhere, even drudge?
http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008425/SAIC-Dongfeng-said-to-buy-GM-Chrysler-assets.html
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:21PM
Another CEO who sends his company up the Yin Yang. Is it ever going to stop?
Yahoo= up the wazoo by Jan @ $15. if there are no other chinks in the armor
Posted by VOL IS KING , Nov 19, 2008 1:24PM
If the guys at yahoo were smart they would start an internet payment processing service of their own to compete with paypal..... then just apply to become a bank holding company and operate on TARP funds. fucking left coaster don't know how get when the gettins good. Maybe Yahoo finance is sufficient, its got finance right there in the name, that's got be worth what $3.5bn..
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:25PM
Yang is too personally/emotionally attached he should have been removed awhile back.
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:28PM
Jeff Yang = Destroy in Large of Value
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:42PM
Yang needs to get career advice from Isiah Thomas
Posted by VOL IS KING , Nov 19, 2008 1:43PM
@16:
what value? yahoo started off as list of web pages. We've moved beyond list technology. They out sourced their search too google. I guess they compile news paper clipping, i'm not really sure where the value add was ever was there. Yang should have pulled a Cuban when he had the chance.
Posted by Harald , Nov 19, 2008 1:44PM
yahoo's primary competitive advantage is its brand. you guys are smart, you should have been able to figure that out
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 1:59PM
Yang sold out poor Chinamen working on a democracy movement in the mother country. Those pinko commy faggots are pulling out their fingernails as we speak. Too bad they weren't Yang's fingernails...
Posted by guest , Nov 19, 2008 2:18PM
@14....hillarious