Web Talk

At last the big drama was drawn to an end! As a matter of fact, after months spent by Microsoft trying to convince Yahoo to be purchased, the last episode of this soap opera has seen Microsoft pulling its bid for Yahoo. Just in case you don’t remember how it started you can read everything here. In the end, the software giant said it failed to convince Yahoo’s board of directors to accept its bid, even after offering more and more bucks (around $54 billions). Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, in a recent statement said: “After careful consideration, we believe the economics demanded by Yahoo do not make sense for us, and it is in the best interests of Microsoft stockholders, employees and other stakeholders to withdraw our proposal” On the other hand Roy Bostock, Chairman of Yahoo! Inc, replying to the Microsoft’s statement said: “We remain focused on maximizing shareholder value and pursuing strategic opportunities that position Yahoo! for success and leadership in its markets. From the beginning of this process, our independent board and our management have been steadfast in our belief that Microsoft’s offer undervalued the company and we are pleased that so many of our shareholders joined us in expressing that view. Yahoo! is profitable, growing, and executing well on its strategic plan to capture the large opportunities in the relatively young online advertising market. Our solid results for the first quarter of 2008 and increased full year 2008 operating cash flow outlook reflect the progress the company is making. Today, Yahoo! has:

• a refined strategic focus to drive enhanced volume and yield;
• reorganized to focus its efforts on its most promising products and services;
• invested in innovations designed to revolutionize display advertising and facilitate closing the competitive gap in search; and
• enhanced expense and resource management to support improved profitability.”

Jerry Yang, co-founder and chief executive officer, Yahoo! Inc. added, “I am incredibly proud of the way our team has come together over the last three months. This process has underscored our unique and valuable strategic position. With the distraction of Microsoft’s unsolicited proposal now behind us, we will be able to focus all of our energies on executing the most important transition in our history so that we can maximize our potential to the benefit of our shareholders, employees, partners and users.”