Investor: Yahoo Should Sell to Microsoft for $22 a Share
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: Yahoo, Microsoft, stock, buyout
With Yahoo now in the $12 to $13 per share range, talk of selling to Microsoft has again intensified. Yahoo stock holder Mithras Capital Partners has proposed that the search giant sell to Microsoft for $22 a share.
Mithras Capital Partners, and equity firm that supposedly owns 14 percent (or approximately 1.9 million shares) of Yahoo suggested that the beleaguered search giant sell to its Redmond rival. In the proposal, which Mithras sent to both companies today, Microsoft would only retain the search business. According to Reuters, this would require Microsoft to sell off Yahoo’s Asian assets and non-search businesses. Microsoft would also get about $3 billion worth of cost savings and receive another $2.8 billion of tax breaks and benefits. When the dust settles, Yahoo, or rather Yahoo’s search business, would be bought for approximately $10.3 billion.
"It is imperative for Microsoft to act now, while the Yahoo-Google deal is mired in regulatory concerns, and before Yahoo strikes a deal with AOL," said Mark Nelson, a partner at Mithras.
All of the numbers rely on Microsofts willingness to offer Yahoo $22 a share, which as of 1:00 p.m. EDT, would be a 81 percent premium above Yahoo’s current price of $12.15 a share (note: stock price via Google Finance).
While the Yahoo execs would never admit as much, is this a good deal for both sides of the table? "As Yahoo shares decline and Microsoft struggles in its online services business, it is increasingly likely Microsoft will make a new offer," American Technology Research analyst Rob Sanderson wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday.
In an economy that shows no signs of improving in the near future, tech stocks across the board are feeling the squeeze. Whether its retail like Circuit City (currently selling for 40 cents a share) or the industry big dogs like Google (currently down over $9 a share) or Intel (down almost 5.5 percent on the day), there is an endless list of companies who are victims of the financial crisis, some of which are ripe for the picking.
Talks between Microsoft and Yahoo went on for the better part of this year before breaking down in July, when Yahoo rejected Microsoft’s proposal to buy its search business and start a revenue sharing deal. In May, Yahoo also rebuffed a full acquisition offer, which sparked criticism of Yahoo’s CEO and board of directors.
The conditions may not get any better for Steve Ballmer and Co. With the current economic climate, and the Yahoo-Google advertising deal bogged by regulatory issues, Microsoft would be wise to act quick if they wish seal the deal before Google steps up, or Yahoo finally decides to buy AOL from Time Warner, which is also down over 9 percent today.
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And Google could buy what's left.
Let me guess, either Mithras is about to go bankrupt and need a large injection of case or they own both Yahoo & MS stocks and would like to see it rise (due to "synergy") before selling and abandoning the market.
Heh... If I was MSFT, I'd offer $16/share - take it or leave it. Man, am I glad I don't own Yahoo... they really snuffed themselves.
I'm going to agree - there is no reason for Microsoft to give them such a premium price when the global markets seem to be collapsing and credit requirements are decreasing available funds.
Also, wouldn't the regulatory agencies be just as interested in a Microsoft and Yahoo merger as they are in a Google and Yahoo merger?
I wonder if that idiot Jerry Yang still thinks the $33/share offer was undervalued?
While business should not be emotional - Yang has mad it so, and if I'm Balmer I'm offering no more than 50% premium ($18-19). If nothing else there is no way Yang retains the chairmanship if the offer is rejected again as Icahn, et al would put up another proxy fight and would likely win this time around.
Hahaha, I bet the yahoo board member's feel like complete idiots. They should you idiots. You way overvalued your company, now you suffer your stupidity.
I own Yahoo stock. What you don't get is I do not want to be part of Microsoft EVER! It does not matter how sweet you think the self serving deal is. It is not about that. Get a clue.
Maybe I just do not get it but if Yahoo is selling at $12.15 per share, why would MS offer anymore? Why even talk with Yahoo's board just by 51% of the stocks to have controlling interest? Then MS could do whatever they want with Yahoo since they would have have the majority vote in any issue.
Afterward they could keep buying stocks until they owned Yahoo outright.