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Ballmer Mentions Yahoo Partnership For Umpteenth Time

First off: yes, at this point, we're all ready to slap Steve Ballmer and Carol Bartz with a fish every time they talk about a partnership or acquisition.  Just the same, millions of dollars are at stake, so it seems important to acknowledge that Ballmer's once again said he's open to a deal. 

Report: Ballmer, Bartz Talking Partnerships

Everyone - and we know there must be a lot of you - who would rather not hear more about potential Microsoft-Yahoo deals should get ready to abandon the Internet for a little while.  It looks like a fresh round of rumors is on the way, led by a report that the two companies are discussing partnerships.  Interestingly, Steve Ballmer and Carol Bartz are supposed to be personally involved, which implies that some rather high-powered negotiations are taking place.  But it's been said that a flat-out acquisition isn't on the table this time.

New Severance Plan Clears Way For Yahoo Acquisition

Delaware Chancery Court Judge William B. Chandler III apparently doesn't love the idea of poison pills.  A settlement he approved would make it much less expensive - and therefore much more appealing - for a company to acquire Yahoo. 

Yahoo Q4 2008 Financial Results Turn Out All Right

Does Carol Bartz have the magic touch?  It's either that or she inherited something less than a complete mess from Jerry Yang, anyway, because as Yahoo's new CEO presided over her first earnings report, many of the numbers weren't at all bad. 

Yahoo Spits Out Poison Pill

As part of its plan to make an acquisition extremely unpalatable to Microsoft, Yahoo adopted a poison pill severance plan six months ago.  Now, for the sake of satisfying some shareholders who sued it, Yahoo has made it slightly easier for a new owner to fire employees.

Yahoo Investor Wants Search Business Sold To Microsoft

Ivory Investment Management can't order anyone to do anything.  Since it's only in control of 1.5 percent of Yahoo's stock, Ivory may not even be able to make suggestions using a loud voice.  Still, the investment firm is adding to all the previous Yahoo-Microsoft mess by recommending a sale of Yahoo's search business.

More Microsoft Yahoo Gossip

It seems that people really want Yahoo and Microsoft to get a deal done. Almost every other day it seems, rumors surface and are just as quickly shot down regarding the two companies and a possible transaction that could put a thorn in Google's side.

Ballmer Ignores Yang, Rules Out Yahoo Acquisition

Even the harshest critics of Steve Ballmer will have to admit one thing: in regards to not buying Yahoo, he's been consistent for a long time now.  At a shareholder meeting today, Ballmer said that he still has no interest in a total acquisition, and Yahoo's stock has taken a nosedive of around 20.9 percent as a result.

Ballmer (Yet Again) Rejects Idea Of Yahoo Acquisition

Earlier this week, Jerry Yang insisted that it's in Microsoft's best interest to buy Yahoo, and that he doesn't regret any of what's transpired.  We compared him to Monty Python's Black Knight character.  Now, Steve Ballmer seems to have pulled a King Arthur and walked away from the whole mess.

Yang Revives Talk Of Microsoft Acquisition

Jerry Yang seems to have learned how to bluff at the (unattached) feet of Monty Python's Black Knight.  Yahoo's CEO claimed at a conference last night, "To this day the best thing for Microsoft to do is buy Yahoo."