bill - 2:47 am on Mar 2, 2011 (gmt 0)

Yahoo in talks to exit Japan, sources say [reuters.com] Yahoo Inc is in advanced talks to exit its joint venture in Japan with SoftBank Corp, a move that could lead it to focus on reaching a decision on its China assets. A deal to transfer Yahoo's 35 percent stake in Yahoo Japan to telecommunications company and investor SoftBank could come within a few weeks, people with knowledge of the discussions said. The public value of the stake is just under $7.5 billion. A straightforward sale is unlikely for tax reasons and the parties are exploring other structures, these people said. A deal has not yet been reached and could yet fall apart.