Therese Poletti’s Tech Tales » Blog Archive » Chief Yahoo: Microsoft deal became “he said, she said”

Jerry Yang, the co-founder and chief executive of Yahoo, told the audience at the All Things Digital conference that he and his team are still open to talking to Microsoft about some sort of deal, but he noted Microsoft walked away from its merger offer, and that events quickly became “he said, she said.”He pointed out that it was Microsoft who walked away from the deal. “They walked away, they withdrew their offer.”Mossberg noted that their account of events differed slightly from the version told by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer at the conference last night. Ballmer emphasized that price was the biggest issue between the two parties.“We never got through the price door,” Yahoo president Sue Decker said. Microsoft initially offered $44.6 billion, or $31 a share for the Internet company. Microsoft raised their bid to $33 a share, but Yahoo wanted at least $37 a share. Since Microsoft with

Jerry Yang, the co-founder and chief executive of Yahoo, told the audience at the All Things Digital conference that he and his team are still open to talking to Microsoft about some sort of deal, but he noted Microsoft walked away from its merger offer, and that events quickly became “he said, she said.”

He pointed out that it was Microsoft who walked away from the deal. “They walked away, they withdrew their offer.”

Mossberg noted that their account of events differed slightly from the version told by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer at the conference last night. Ballmer emphasized that price was the biggest issue between the two parties.

“We never got through the price door,” Yahoo president Sue Decker said. Microsoft initially offered $44.6 billion, or $31 a share for the Internet company. Microsoft raised their bid to $33 a share, but Yahoo wanted at least $37 a share. Since Microsoft withdrew its bid, the two companies are talking about some other sort of deal, reportedly Microsoft is looking at buying Yahoo’s search business.

Yang and Decker were also asked by co-host Kara Swisher why they should remain in their positions at the company.

“I’m a co-founder. I’ve been involved in the company a long time,” Yang said. “I do think that I’m the best person to lead Yahoo. Not only because I bleed purple and I bleed Yahoo but also because there is a big opportunity for Yahoo. It wasn’t lightly that I came to the decision to be CEO. I don’t necessarily have all the experience…..but I also felt it’s my time to really take Yahoo to the next level.”

Therese Poletti’s Tech Tales » Blog Archive » Chief Yahoo: Microsoft deal became “he said, she said”

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