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’Publicis nears Razorfish acquisition
Publicis Groupe is closing in on an acquisition of Razorfish, Microsoft’s digital advertising agency, and could agree final terms by early next week. The situation remains fluid, but the French communications company has taken the lead in a contest with Dentsu,
Microsoft and Yahoo on defensive
Microsoft and Yahoo were forced to mount a renewed defence of their search alliance on Thursday as investors continued to punish Yahoo’s price over the deal. Yahoo’s shares slid further on Thursday,
Microsoft and Yahoo seal deal
Yahoo on Wednesday agreed to hand control of its internet search technology to Microsoft in a deal that fell short of expectations. Yahoo shares slid 12% as analysts expressed doubts about the deal’s financial benefits and long-term impact on Yahoo.
Microsoft and Yahoo near deal
Microsoft and Yahoo are on the brink of sealing an online alliance that could create a more formidable rival to Google in the search business. The deal had yet to be formally concluded late on Tuesday but the major terms had been agreed in principle,
Microsoft’s sales tumble
Microsoft cast doubt on hopes for a rebound in the technology sector on Thursday as it reported an unexpected slump in sales for its latest quarter. The world’s biggest software company said revenues had declined 17% amid falling demand for new PCs and servers.
MSFT’s soft numbers
Ugly numbers out of Redmond on Thursday. Shares were slammed, falling 9 per cent in after-hours trading.
Per Bloomberg, emphasis ours:
Microsoft Corp., the world’s biggest software maker, reported a 29 percent drop in profit and sales that missed analysts’ estimates,
Microsoft in free software assault on Google
Microsoft on Monday escalated its battle with arch rival Google, reacting to an assault on one of its core businesses with the announcement of a free online version of its widely used Office software, to be launched next year,
Microsoft puts Razorfish up for sale
Microsoft has appointed Morgan Stanley to find a potential buyer for Razorfish, its Seattle-based digital agency. Publicis, the French marketing company, is thought to be a possible bidder. Microsoft acquired Razorfish,
Microsoft pre-empts EU browser action
The fight between Microsoft and the EU over competition issues in the internet browser market erupted afresh late on Thursday as the software giant sought to pre-empt stringent anti-trust action being planned by Brussels.
Microsoft in landmark bond issues
Microsoft passed a significant milestone in its financial history on Monday as it turned to the bond market for the first time, raising $3.75bn to add to its already sizeable cash pile. The landmark long-term debt issue signals a further break with the company’s traditionally conservative stance towards its balance sheet.
Microsoft sees first fall in revenue
Microsoft’s revenues fell for the first time in its 34-year history in the first quarter of this year, bringing an end to one of the most dramatic uninterrupted growth stories in modern business, according to figures issued Thursday.
Day of gloom for tech leaders
Microsoft on Thursday announced its first company-wide job cuts in its 34-year history, capping a day of gloom for the technology sector. The software giant’s plans to cut up to 5,000 jobs came as Sony plunged deeper into crisis after the electronics and entertainment group warned it would suffer its first full-year operating loss in 14 years,
Microsoft rules out Yahoo deal, but…
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer ruled out an acquisition of Yahoo on Wednesday but said his company was interested in resuming talks on a web search partnership, reports Reuters. Yahoo shares fell 19% on the remarks,
After Yang: Yahoo gains on renewed hopes
Hopes that Yahoo’s plan to replace Jerry Yang as chief executive would clear the way for a deal with Microsoft lifted struggling internet company’s shares on Tuesday by nearly 9%. Yang, who was widely criticised by shareholders for failing to agree on terms for a Microsoft takeover this spring,
Microsoft denies Yahoo interest
Software giant Microsoft on Friday dismissed speculation it might still be interested in a takeover of internet company Yahoo, reports Reuters. “We made an offer, we made another offer … We moved on,”
Weekend catch-up
In case you missed these (FT) reports:
Fannie and Freddie doubts grow
Shares in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell Friday amid concerns foreign investors are cutting their exposure to the troubled US mortgage financiers’ bonds and guaranteed securities.
Johnson to leave Microsoft in shake-up
Microsoft revealed its disarray in the aftermath of its failed bid for Yahoo yesterday, announcing a major reorganisation and the unexpected departure of the executive who oversaw its offer. A person close
Yahoo buys time with Icahn ceasefire
Yahoo bought some breathing space on Monday in its long struggle to remain independent, agreeing a ceasefire with Carl Icahn in return for giving up three board seats to the activist investor. But some analysts warned that the pact would not end the fierce battle with Microsoft that has transfixed the consumer internet business for much of this year.
Yahoo rejects Microsoft-Icahn offer
Yahoo said it had rejected an attempt by Microsoft and Carl Icahn, the activist investor, to replace its board immediately and buy its search business, condemning the joint move as an “odd and opportunistic alliance”.
Microsoft steps up battle over Yahoo board
Microsoft set the stage for a full-blown battle to overthrow Yahoo’s board of directors when it declared it was interested in reopening talks to buy all or part of the internet company – but only if a new board was appointed first.
Microsoft considers fresh run at Yahoo
Microsoft, positioning itself for a new run for Yahoo’s web search business, has approached other media companies in recent days about joining it in a deal that would effectively lead to Yahoo’s breakup,
Yahoo agrees deal with Google
Yahoo on Thursday sealed an alliance with search giant Google, leaving rival suitor Microsoft out in the cold as it seeks to revive its own flagging internet fortunes. The alliance between the two biggest web search companies,
Yahoo postpones showdown with Icahn
Yahoo on Thursday postponed its showdown with Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor seeking to oust its board and sell the company to Microsoft. The internet company said it was putting off its annual meeting roughly until the end of July for regulatory reasons.
Microsoft revives Yahoo race
Microsoft has proposed a deal to Yahoo that goes further than a partnership, although it still stops short of a full buy-out of the internet concern, said a person familiar with the situation. The comments add to indications over the weekend that the software company has launched a bid to buy a significant part of Yahoo’s operations,
Microsoft renews approach to Yahoo
Microsoft has made a fresh approach to Yahoo about a deal to combine part of their online businesses, reports the FT, although this time, the proposal stops short of a full acquisition, Microsoft said Sunday.
Whatever happened to Carl Icahn’s blog?
We know he’s busy. But the activist investor’s broadside against Yahoo, in a letter on Thursday, sent us scurrying to the well-trailed site to find a) the letter b) some other insight into Mr Icahn’s thinking.
Microsoft sends feelers to Facebook
Microsoft, under pressure to craft a strategy for competing online that doesn’t involve Yahoo, informally approached social-networking website Facebook to gauge its interest in selling itself to Microsoft,
Angry Yahoo investors face deadline
Yahoo shareholders angry at the failure last weekend of takeover talks with Microsoft have only until late next week to mount a campaign to force the internet company to reconsider, following a manoeuvre by Yahoo to put the matter behind it.
Yahoo chief defends strategy
Yahoo might have been prepared to accept a lower price from Microsoft rather than see takeover talks between the two companies collapse, Jerry Yang, its co-founder and chief executive, indicated Monday.