Microsoft to Acquire Yahoo!
This entry was posted on 2/1/2008 11:04 AM and is filed under Microsoft,Engines,Yahoo.
From the back room to the front page, Microsoft puts in an attractive bid for Yahoo!.
$31 per share, $44.6B total for a 62% premium.
I found this quote somewhat amusing given Microsoft's history of being the only strong player in some categories:
“The combined assets and strong services focus of these two companies
will enable us to achieve scale economics while reaching R&D
critical mass to deliver innovation breakthroughs,” said Kevin Johnson,
president of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft. “The
industry will be well served by having more than one strong player,
offering more value and real choice to advertisers, publishers and
consumers.”
More seriously...
With all the recent upheaval in Yahoo!, recently announced layoffs all
the way back to the reorganization of the ad sales group, it is hard to
tell where people will net out. MS is offering retention packages for
high value positions in engineering and other areas. Hopefully there are enough unique
opportunities to keep most people on.
"Microsoft has developed a plan and process that will include the
employees of both companies to focus on the integration of the combined
business. Microsoft intends to offer significant retention packages to
Yahoo! engineers, key leaders and employees across all disciplines."
I mostly focus on the numbers when I write about our industry. But the
truth is, the numbers are only a reflection of how well people work
together. If we work well, the numbers show it. If we don't, the
numbers show that too.
We work with good people in both houses. Our success is aided greatly
by these folks and my hope is that we will be able to continue those
relationships.
