engine - 6:32 pm on Feb 1, 2008 (gmt 0)

The U.S. Justice Department said it is "interested" in reviewing the antitrust implications of Microsoft Corp.'s proposed $44.6 billion purchase of Yahoo! Inc. [webmasterworld.com] "The antitrust division would be interested in looking at the competitive effects of the transaction," said Gina Talamona, an agency spokeswoman in Washington. Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, offered $31 per share in cash or stock for Yahoo, 62 percent more than Yahoo's closing price yesterday. Yahoo said today it will evaluate the proposal "promptly."

Microsoft & Yahoo Proposal Draws U.S. Justice Dept Antitrust Interest [bloomberg.com]