Microsoft's Ballmer: Yahoo Deal is "a thing of the past,"

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Microsoft's Ballmer: Yahoo Deal is "a thing of the past," [money.cnn.com]

The mooted acquisition of Yahoo Inc. by Microsoft Corp. is "a thing of the past," Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said in an interview due to air Thursday.

Ballmer's remarks, in an interview with Fox Business Network, appear to pour cold water on recent reports that the bid, which Microsoft pulled last year after months of fruitless talks, had been revived.

"You certainly shouldn't think we'll go back after Yahoo," Ballmer told interviewer Brian Sullivan. We may try to do other kinds of partnerships with them, but acquisition is a thing of the past."