Microsoft-Yahoo?
With the news that Microsoft (MSFT) has put an unsolicited offer on the table to acquire Yahoo! (YHOO), the wheels have been put in motion to go head to head with Google.
We Love The Yahoo! Brand, was the mantra this morning during a conference call for press and investors to outline the Microsoft mindset for the offer.
Microsoft Conference Call today
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Slides from today's call
In a letter to Yahoo's board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said the world's biggest software maker will bid $31 per share, representing a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing stock price Thursday.
Having worked at Yahoo! and with contacts at Microsoft, I know they are decidedly different corporate cultures. That said, I think it would be a net positive, it is time for Yahoo! to grow up and perhaps some structure and discipline would be good for them.
Microsoft can bring more then just deep pockets, scale, and technology innovation like behavioral targeting in addition to leadership in the entertainment and device businesses. Yahoo! has platform experience, has deployed video in a number of attempts, such as Finance Vision, Platinum, and could reinvigorate those connections with the audience.
