Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has discussed the idea with Steve Ballmer


(IDG News Service) In a statement Monday, Microsoft Corp. confirmed that it would be interested in resuming talks with Yahoo Inc. with a new board of directors, either as part of an effort to buy Yahoo's search business or the entire company.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who has been pushing for a deal with Microsoft and has proposed a new slate of Yahoo directors, also issued a letter on Monday, confirming that he has discussed the scenario "frequently" during the past week with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other executives.

In response to Icahn's letter, Yahoo's board of directors on Monday said the company is ready to sell and urged Microsoft to make an offer for all of Yahoo now if it is still interested in buying rather than speculate about plans for some "future 'negotiation' between Mr. Icahn's directors and Microsoft's management."

"If Microsoft and Mr. Ballmer really want to purchase Yahoo!, we again invite them to make a proposal immediately," the company said in a statement.

It added that a deal between Icahn's proposed new board and Microsoft to only buy Yahoo's search business "would not lead to an outcome that would be in the best interests of Yahoo!'s stockholders."

In its statement, Microsoft said that, after Yahoo's shareholder meeting this quarter, it would be "interested in .............


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