Advertisment

Microsoft CEO pours cold water on Yahoo interest

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Software giant Microsoft Corp on Friday dismissed speculation it might still be interested in a takeover of Internet firm Yahoo Inc.

Advertisment

"We made an offer, we made another offer...We have moved on," Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer told a luncheon when asked for the firm's plans after a partnership between Yahoo and Google Inc fell through this week.

Microsoft had abandoned an unsolicited $47.5 billion bid for Yahoo in May.

Ballmer's comments come two days after Yahoo shares surged on after a rumour posted on a blog said Yahoo and Microsoft were in advanced talks to sell the company for between $17 and $19 a share. The blog also reported that Yahoo's chief executive Jerry Yang would step down from his CEO position.

Advertisment

Yahoo officials later said the report was untrue.

Yahoo shares ended Thursday at $13.96, far below the $31-a-share Microsoft originally offered, and the company has come under severe criticism from investors for turning down the software giant's offer.

Earlier this week, Yahoo's Yang said he believed a deal between Microsoft and Yahoo was still the best option for the software company.

tech-news