Events Calendar
In This Section
Stocks zigzag after rally as the dollar rises
Job openings remain close to record-lows
Fed officials warn weak recovery won't spur jobs
Work force evolves, falters since 1982
Web sites offer help in finding scholarships
Refinance before low rates rise again
Microsoft to upgrade portal to boost Bing
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Investors for both sides want to see a merger before Google moves
Published on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO: Just two weeks after breaking off merger talks, Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. have been pulled back to the bargaining table by their fears about what might happen if they don't work out a deal.
Microsoft and Yahoo are still dancing around the edges as they explore possible business arrangements without melding the two companies.
The notion of a half-baked deal didn't excite investors Monday as they got their first chance to react to Sunday's news that the two are talking again.
Yahoo shares rose 0.7 percent, or 2 cents, to close at $27.68 on Monday, while Microsoft shares fell 1.8 percent, or 53 cents, to close at $29.46.
But most analysts remain convinced the preliminary talks will culminate in Microsoft buying Yahoo for somewhere between $33 to $37 per share, a price that translates to $47.5 billion to $53 billion.
Both Microsoft and Yahoo issued statements Sunday acknowledging they haven't ruled out the possibility of a merger even though they aren't discussing one now.
Although their discussions fell apart this month in a disagreement over price, both Yahoo and Microsoft have powerful incentives to reach a compromise within the next few weeks.
If Yahoo doesn't stop demanding $37 per share, its board could be overthrown in a shareholder mutiny led by activist investor Carl Icahn.
To pressure Yahoo into reviving the talks, he has nominated an alternate slate of 10 directors scheduled to stand for election at Yahoo's July 3 annual meeting. Icahn didn't respond to a request for comment Monday.
Meanwhile, Microsoft's unwillingness to pay more than $33 per share created an opportunity for its nemesis, Google Inc., to enter an advertising partnership with Yahoo.
''It's becoming pretty clear that Yahoo is either going to work something out with Microsoft or do a deal with Google,'' said Standard & Poor's equity analyst Scott Kessler. ''If Yahoo winds up with Google after all this, it would be pretty damaging to Microsoft.''
Microsoft began pursuing a Yahoo takeover in late January largely as a means to counter Google's dominance of the Internet search and advertising markets.
Get the full article here.
