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Yahoo Shareholders Getting Antsy

Another week, another update on Microsoft's attempt to spend every bit of the cash it has in its coffers (and more).

Even if Yahoo isn't ready to accept Redmond's overtures, Microsoft employees will be, or should be, ready for what seems to be an inevitable consumption of the Internet pioneer. Microsoft executives e-mailed the company's employees last week a guide to swallowing Yahoo, laying out how an acquisition would affect Redmond's rank and file.

Meanwhile, Yahoo shareholders are getting more and more nervous about the company's rebuffing of Microsoft. One group has sued Yahoo, charging that the company's executives shouldn't be trying to get that scary biker dude to take them to the prom when the quarterback of the football team has a limo and a corsage waiting and ready to go. (Or something like that -- basically, the shareholders want Yahoo to sell out to Microsoft rather than shop around for another acquirer.)

Even if a deal is inevitable -- and we have no idea whether it'll happen -- these delays and Yahoo's apparent revulsion at the site of Microsoft don't make anybody look very good. In fact, at this point, both companies look kind of desperate, and Google -- the reason all of this is happening -- must be sitting back and enjoying the drama over a big box of popcorn, or maybe sushi, or kelp, or whatever people in San Francisco are eating these days.

This story is sure to continue unfolding, so check RCPU for more updates and witty commentary (ahem), and keep sending your thoughts on the matter (or anything else) to [email protected].

Posted by Lee Pender on February 26, 2008


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