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 lpender@rcpmag.com.
Posted by Lee Pender on February 26, 2008 at 11:54 AM