Google thinks about Yahoo but it's all very tentative
Google has been talking to at least two private equity firms about the possibility of them helping finance a deal to buy Yahoo's core business, the Wall Street Journal reports, quoting " a person familiar with the matter."
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"Early-stage discussions" had been held with potential partners, said the WSJ, but no formal proposal had been put together and Google might in the end not make a bid, according to the informant.
Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, in which Yahoo has a 40 per cent stake, has already made clear its interest in pursuing a Yahoo bid.
Microsoft and other companies are also looking but the question is how much the company is worth. One ballpark figure is $20 billion.
Any deal lashing together two of the biggest Internet companies would be sure to attract antitrust scrutiny, said the WSJ.
Microsoft is now considering financing part of a bid for Yahoo by a private equity firm, insiders told the Journal.
Yahoo declined to comment.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204485304576646232054116582.html#ixzz1bd685rB8Google Inc.