Monday, April 7, 2008

Yahoo Again Rejects Microsoft Offer, Saying Bid Is Too Low

Yahoo has rejected Microsoft's latest three-week deadline to complete a deal, saying the current offer still doesn't properly value the Internet company.

Microsoft (MSFT: 29.16, +0.16, +0.55%) set the clock ticking for Yahoo to accept its $41 billion buyout offer in a letter to the Internet pioneer's board Saturday, warning that if a deal wasn't reached by April 26 the software maker would launch a hostile takeover at a less attractive price.

"If we have not concluded an agreement within the next three weeks, we will be compelled to take our case directly to your shareholders, including the initiation of a proxy contest to elect an alternative slate of directors for the Yahoo board," wrote Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer.

"If we are forced to take an offer directly to your shareholders, that action will have an undesirable impact on the value of your company from our perspective which will be reflected in the terms of our proposal," he wrote.

In response Monday, Yahoo (YHOO: 28.36, +0.23, +0.81%) said such talk was "counterproductive" and that Ballmer's view that Yahoo had refused to enter into talks was a "mischaracterization."

In the letter, Ballmer said Yahoo's search share and page views, two measures of the strength of the Web portal company's business, appear to have fallen since the offer was made at the end of January. At the time, Microsoft's cash-and-stock offer was valued at $44.6 billion, or 62% above Yahoo's market value. Judging by Friday's closing share prices, the deal is now worth just under $41 billion.

Yahoo's board formally rejected Microsoft Corp.'s bid in February, saying it undervalues the company. In its letter Monday, Yahoo said it isn't opposed to a deal with Microsoft or any third party, provided the price is right.

Source: Fox Business

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