Friday May 4, 7:30 am ET
NEW YORK (AP) -- Software maker Microsoft Corp. asked search engine operator Yahoo Inc. to re-enter formal negotiations for an acquisition that could be worth $50 billion, the New York Post reported on Friday.
Microsoft is feeling increasing pressure to compete with Google Inc., which plans to beef up its portfolio with a $3.1 billion buy of online advertising company DoubleClick Inc. 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.
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.
Unnamed sources in the Post story said Microsoft's latest approach to Yahoo, one of many it has reportedly made over the years, signals increased urgency.
Yahoo shares surged to $32.35 in premarket electronic trading from a $28.18 close on Thursday, while shares of Microsoft fell to $30.70 in premarket activity from a $30.97 Thursday close.
Related Article : Why Microsoft needs Yahoo! (4 March 2007)
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