pageoneresults - 12:20 pm on Nov 7, 2008 (gmt 0)

From the article...

When discussing the failed takeover, which, if successful, would have been one of the biggest takeovers in IT history, Ballmer said: "They turned us down at $33 a share; move on."

And of course this comment from Mr. Yang...

"I believe the best thing for Microsoft to do is to buy Yahoo,"

And this...

At the time of writing, Yahoo's share price was $13.85

$33.00 - $13.85 = $19.15

I know there were many who were predicting the stock market crash but I'm sure Yahoo! couldn't have predicted something like this.

Someone, some group(s), put a lot of pressure on the Government to stop this and it worked. Google finally gave in to the mounting litigation costs. And with their current financial situation, dragging this on any further just isn't worth it.

So what happens to Yahoo! now? Based on statistics, they are losing a fractional percentage of search to Google each and every month. The ball is rolling and I see that loss continuing. Three years of history proves it. Same with Microsoft and Ask. They are all losing to Google. All G have to do is sit back and let nature takes its course which has been happening anyway.

If I were Microsoft, I'd wait until Yahoo! was about to file for BK at which time I'd offer a small fraction of what the company is worth. It would cover their BK obligations and then give MS the second slot in search.

Yahoo! is in no position to negotiate anything right now other than a buyout with someone. Maybe Ask? That might make MS change their mind. There ya go Mr. Yang, start negotiations with Ask and watch what happens. MS surely don't want to be in that last position. ;)