Microsoft won't pursue all of Yahoo, but may buy bits of it

THE VOLE will not be renewing its bid to buy Yahoo, but CEO Steve Ballmer said the company is still in talks with the Internet search firm about the possibility of other types of deals.

Ballmer made the comments at a press conference to mark the launch of Microsoft’s brand new Strategic Research and Development centre here in Herzeliya, Israel.

A journalist asking Ballmer about the Yahvole non-deal here threw a Yahoo key ring at Microsoft’s CEO, saying, “don’t worry, it’s not an egg”. Ballmer laughed and put the key ring in his pocket.

"We are not bidding to buy Yahoo, but we are trying to have discussions about deals with Yahoo that might create value", he said, then reiterated “but not a whole acquisition of the company."

Microsoft publicly gave up on its bid to take over Yahoo for $47.5 billion, or $33 per share, after Yahoo rejected the offer, saying it would settle for nothing less than $37 a share.

There is speculation that the outfit may now be in discussions with Yahoo pertaining to the potential acquisition of its search-advertising business and its Asian assets. Ballmer did not comment on either rumour.

When asked about whether whispers that Microsoft was thinking about using money it hadn’t spent on Yahoo to buy Facebook instead, Ballmer replied: " There's nothing particularly new on that front," adding, "We have a great relationship with Facebook and we look to continue to invest in that partnership." µ

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