NEW YORK – Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is resuming its pursuit of Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) in an attempt to better compete with Web search and advertising leader Google Inc. (GOOG), published reports said Friday.
Yahoo shares surged more than 17 percent in midday trading.
The New York Post reported Friday that Microsoft has asked Yahoo to enter formal negotiations for an acquisition that could be worth $50 billion. Yahoo's market capitalization was about $38 billion on Thursday.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., had no immediate comment on the report, spokesman Lou Gellos said Friday. Yahoo spokeswoman Joanna Stevens also declined comment, saying "We don't discuss rumors and speculation."
The Wall Street Journal said executives of the two companies are looking at a merger or some other kind of matchup and said the talks appear to be early-stage discussions. It said the companies explored the idea of combining last year but the talks led nowhere.
The newspaper reports each cited unidentified people familiar with the situation.
Industry analyst Matt Rosoff with Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, Wash., said a huge takeover is unlikely, noting that it would duplicate services Microsoft's MSN already provides, such as instant messaging and e-mail.
It is possible, Rosoff added, that Microsoft and Yahoo might be talking about a deal involving only online search advertising.
Microsoft is feeling increasing pressure to compete with Google, which plans to beef up its portfolio with a $3.1 billion purchase of online advertising company DoubleClick Inc.
Microsoft currently trails both Yahoo and Google in the lucrative and growing business of Web search.
Google won a search advertising deal with AOL in 2005 that the Post said Microsoft wanted. In addition, Google is developing Web-based software that directly competes with Microsoft Office.
The Post story said Microsoft and Yahoo have held informal talks over the years and said Microsoft's latest approach to Yahoo signals increased urgency.
Earlier this week, Yahoo said it would buy 80 percent of advertising exchange Right Media for $680 million, increasing its stake in that company to full control.
Yahoo shares surged $4.94, or 17.5 percent, to $33.12 in midday trading, while shares of Microsoft fell 51 cents to $30.46.
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