Spoločnosť Microsoft dnes dostala oficiálnu odpoveď na svoju ponuku Yahoo!. O tom, že Yahoo! pravdepodobne odmietne sme vás už informovali. Aké má ďalšie možnosti a akou cestou sa vyberie si môžete prečítať v dnešnom raňajšom článku.

Väčšina odborníkov a novinárov, ktorí túto problematiku sledovali, predpokladalo odmietnutie tejto ponuky a na internete sa objavovali stovky teórií a kombinácií, ako by mohlo Yahoo! pokračovať. Dnes bola táto domnienka potvrdená a Yahoo! oficiálne odmietlo ponuku Microsoftu vo svojom oficiálnom vyhlásení, ktoré si môžete v originálnom znení prečítať nižšie.

Sunnyvale, Calif., February 11, 2008 — Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), a leading global Internet company, today said the Yahoo! Board of Directors has carefully reviewed Microsoft’s unsolicited proposal with Yahoo!’s management team and financial and legal advisors and has unanimously concluded that the proposal is not in the best interests of Yahoo! and our stockholders.

After careful evaluation, the Board believes that Microsoft’s proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo! including our global brand, large worldwide audience, significant recent investments in advertising platforms and future growth prospects, free cash flow and earnings potential, as well as our substantial unconsolidated investments. The Board of Directors is continually evaluating all of its strategic options in the context of the rapidly evolving industry environment and we remain committed to pursuing initiatives that maximize value for all stockholders.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers and Moelis & Company are acting as financial advisors to Yahoo!. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal advisor to Yahoo!, and Munger Tolles & Olson LLP is acting as counsel to the outside directors of Yahoo!.

Yahoo! sa odvoláva na dôvody, ktoré boli známe už dávnejšie. Výbor spoločnosti nie je ochotný predať ju za najnižšiu trhovú cenu za posledných 5 rokov. Spoločnosť Yahoo! sa taktiež odvoláva na značku, ktorú za tie roky vybudovala, najväčšiu návštevnosť na internete, obrovské investície do reklamy a veľký trhový potenciál. Taktiež vyhlásila, že výbor sa stále vyhodnocuje ďalšie strategické akvizície aby tak maximalizovali zisk pre svojich akcionárov.

Doplnené:

Microsoft promptne reagoval na oficiálne odmietnutie Yahoo! Jediné, čo sme sa z jeho vyhlásenia dozvedeli je, že sa nemieni vzdať bez boja a bude o Yahoo! aktívne bojovať, ako sme už uviedli v predošlom článku.

Microsoft Responds to Yahoo! Announcement
Monday February 11, 4:31 pm ET
Reiterates Full and Fair Proposal for Microsoft-Yahoo! Combination

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT – News) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO – News) that its Board of Directors has rejected Microsoft’s previously announced proposal to acquire Yahoo!:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

It is unfortunate that Yahoo! has not embraced our full and fair proposal
to combine our companies. Based on conversations with stakeholders of both
companies, we are confident that moving forward promptly to consummate a
transaction is in the best interests of all parties.

We are offering shareholders superior value and the opportunity to
participate in the upside of the combined company. The combination also
offers an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers
and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online
services market.

A Microsoft-Yahoo! combination will create a more effective company that
would provide greater value and service to our customers. Furthermore, the
combination will create a more competitive marketplace by establishing a
compelling number two competitor for Internet search and online
advertising.

The Yahoo! response does not change our belief in the strategic and
financial merits of our proposal. As we have said previously, Microsoft
reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that Yahoo!’s
shareholders are provided with the opportunity to realize the value
inherent in our proposal.

On February 1, 2008, Microsoft announced a proposal to acquire all the outstanding shares of Yahoo! common stock for per share consideration of $31 representing a total equity value of approximately $44.6 billion and a 62 percent premium above the closing price of Yahoo! common stock based on the closing prices of the stocks of both companies on Jan. 31, 2008, the last day of trading prior to Microsoft’s announcement. Microsoft’s proposal would allow the Yahoo! shareholders to elect to receive cash or a fixed number of shares of Microsoft common stock, with the total consideration payable to Yahoo! shareholders consisting of one-half cash and one-half Microsoft common stock.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT – News) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. This material is not a substitute for the prospectus/proxy statement Microsoft Corporation would file with the SEC if an agreement between Microsoft Corporation and Yahoo! Inc. is reached or any other documents which Microsoft Corporation may file with the SEC and send to Yahoo! shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF YAHOO! INC. ARE URGED TO READ ANY SUCH DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of any documents filed with the SEC by Microsoft Corporation through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Free copies of any such documents can also be obtained by directing a request to Investor Relations Department, Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399.

Microsoft Corporation and its directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Microsoft Corporation’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2007, which was filed with the SEC on August 8, 2007, and its proxy statement for its 2007 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on September 29, 2007. Other information regarding the participants in a proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in any proxy statement filed in connection with the proposed transaction.

Statements in this release that are “forward-looking statements” are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as Microsoft Corporation’s ability to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the proposed transaction, Microsoft Corporation’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Yahoo! Inc. and Microsoft Corporation, the timing to consummate the proposed transaction and any necessary actions to obtain required regulatory approvals, and the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Microsoft Corporation’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of Microsoft Corporation’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Microsoft Corporation’s Investor Relations department at (800) 285-7772 or at Microsoft Corporation’s website at http://www.microsoft.com/msft.

All information in this communication is as of the date hereof. Microsoft Corporation undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company’s expectations.