In case you have not heard this is the latest on MANGY.
Wait a minute. What does MANGY mean ?
MANGY stands for Microsoft-AOL-News Corp-Google-Yahoo
Here are the news bytes -
News Corp., AOL Pursue Yahoo Deals
Yahoo Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL are closing in on a deal to combine their Internet operations, a move aimed at thwarting Microsoft Corp.'s effort to acquire Yahoo, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
But Microsoft is recrafting its assault plan by talking with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, about mounting a joint bid for Yahoo, people familiar with the matter said. Microsoft and News Corp. have yet to reach an agreement on joining forces but one person apprised of the plan described the discussions as serious. Such a deal would combine three of the biggest Internet properties: News Corp.'s MySpace, Microsoft's MSN and Yahoo.
Jerry Strikes Back, Part 2: Yahoo-AOL May Announce Merger Next Week
The WSJ confirms that a Yahoo-AOL deal may be imminent. Earlier, Rafat Ali at PaidContent had speculated that the Yahoo-Google search partnership could pave the way for a Yahoo-AOL merger announcement, perhaps as early as next week.
A Google-Yahoo search partnership alone would not likely persuade Yahoo shareholders to forgo the Microsoft (MSFT) offer, but, as Rafat suggests, it is conceivable (conceivable) that a very well presented Yahoo-AOL merger combined with a Yahoo-Google search partnership might persuade shareholders to give the combo a chance for a while. At least until Microsoft comes back with a much sweeter bid (or a much lower one, if the deal bombs).
Also, AOL has no future as a standalone company, so it might as well merge with Yahoo or Microsoft now rather than later, in whole or in part. And there's certainly no reason for Time Warner to hang onto it. (AOL is one private nightmare that Jeff Bewkes would dearly love to end).
The big advantage of an AOL-Yahoo deal would be that it could happen relatively fast. (Though Microsoft would likely scream bloody murder and go rushing to the regulators). To make the deal successful, Yahoo's management would have to be absolutely ruthless about cutting costs and eliminating redundancy, bureaucracy, etc, and ruthlessness is not their strong suit.
Microsoft Comments on Yahoo! Announcement
“Any definitive agreement between Yahoo! and Google would consolidate over 90% of the search advertising market in Google’s hands. This would make the market far less competitive, in sharp contrast to our own proposal to acquire Yahoo! We will assess closely all of our options. Our proposal remains the only alternative put forward that offers Yahoo! shareholders full and fair value for their shares, gives every shareholder a vote on the future of the company, and enhances choice for content creators, advertisers, and consumers.”
News Corp. May Join Yahoo Bid With Microsoft
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is in talks with Microsoft about joining in its contested bid for Yahoo, according to people involved in the discussions. The combination, which would join Yahoo, Microsoft’s MSN and News Corporation’s MySpace, would create a behemoth that would upend the Internet landscape.
The talks are a surprising twist in the two-month-long takeover story that began when Microsoft made a $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo.Yahoo has resisted Microsoft’s overtures, contending that it will not negotiate unless Microsoft raises its offer.Yahoo, which wants to remain independent, has been in a desperate search for white knights, holding conversations with Time Warner’s AOL and News Corporation.
Yahoo! to Conduct Limited U.S. Test of Google's AdSense for Search Service
Yahoo! Inc. announced today that it will begin a limited test of Google Inc.'s AdSense for Search service, which will deliver relevant Google ads alongside Yahoo!'s own search results. The test will apply only to traffic from yahoo.com in the U.S. and will not include Yahoo!'s extended network of affiliate or premium publisher partners. The test is expected to last up to two weeks and will be limited to no more than 3% of Yahoo! search queries.
As previously announced, Yahoo!'s board of directors is exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value, including exploration of potential commercial business arrangements. The Company noted that the testing does not necessarily mean that Yahoo! will join the AdSense for Search program or that any further commercial relationship with Google will result. The Company further stated that it would not comment on the nature or timing of any potential relationship.
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