Microsoft negotiations In February 2008, Microsoft made an unsolicited offer to buy Yahoo! for $44.6 billion; at the time Yahoo! was still struggling to catch up to Google, while Microsoft was still seeking an internet search strategy. The offer was a 62% premium to Yahoo!'s market value at the time. The negotiations were difficult, as Yang had no desire to sell Yahoo! and would not make a counter offer. Once the negotiations ended in failure in May 2008, Yahoo!'s stock price plunged. Yang and board chairman Roy Bostock were strongly criticized by investors for their handling of negotiations, which later led to several shareholder lawsuits and a proxy fight led by Carl Icahn, which was settled in July 2008.Rob Hof for Bloomberg BusinessWeek TechBeat July 21, 2008 Yahoo Settles Proxy Fight With Icahn; What's Next?
mICrosofT NegOTiatIons iN feBruaRY 2008, mIcRosoft madE an uNSOlICIted offeR to buy YahOo! fOr $44.6 BillION; AT the tImE yahOo! waS stiLl StRuggling tO cAtcH up to googlE, WHilE micrOsOFt Was STill sEEkIng an inTernEt seARCh stRategy. the offer WAs a 62% premIuM To yahOO!'S MarkeT VaLue at ThE Time. the neGoTIations WerE dIfficULT, as yAng had NO DEsire to SeLl yAHOo! And woUld not makE a CounteR ofFer. onCe THE negOTiations ended in Failure in May 2008, yahoO!'s STock PricE PlUngeD. yanG anD BoARD chairmaN roy bOStocK weRe STRoNGly cRiTiciZed bY iNvestorS for their HAnDlinG of nEgotiaTions, wHiCh laTeR leD To severAL sharEholDeR lawSuits anD A pRoxy FIGht led by Carl iCahN, wHiCh was seTtLed in july 2008.ROb Hof fOR bLoOMberG bUsInessweek teChbEAt july 21, 2008 yAHOO settles prOxY fight wiTh icahn; wHaT'S neXT?