Ya hace algunos días se escucharon rumores de que Yahoo no iba a aceptar la oferta de Microsoft de 44.600 millones por Yahoo, aluciendo que el valor estaría muy por debajo de las expectativas.

Hoy día, esto se ha oficializado con la siguiente nota de prensa:

Yahoo! Board of Directors Says Microsoft’s Proposal Substantially Undervalues Yahoo!

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — 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!.

También han circulado rumores de que Yahoo estaría en negociaciones con AOL para evitar la compra por parte de Microsoft. Ahora habrá que esperar como reacciona la compañía de Bill Gates. En caso de que esta transacción fracase, Google será por lo menos por el momento, el gran ganador de la guerra por la supremacía de Internet.