Leading Internet firm Yahoo! is seeking to restart merger talks with Time Warner-owned AOL to defend itself against the $44.6-billion takeover bid by Microsoft, British media said on Monday.
According to The Times, one option being explored by Yahoo! is to restart merger talks with AOL to fend off Microsoft from taking over the firm.
"It is also understood that one option being explored is to restart merger talks with AOL, the online business owned by Time Warner. Tie-ups with groups such as Google or Disney are also being considered," the newspaper said.
Although Yahoo! and AOL previously failed to join forces because of differences over price, it is hoped that the urgency created by an unwelcome approach from Microsoft and an impending economic downturn will spur the two into new talks,"
The world's largest software maker Microsoft had made an unsolicited $44.6
According to the report, it is understood that Yahoo! and its team of advisers from Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, the US investment banks, have spent the past week evaluating possible tie-ups with media and technology firms that would save it from being swallowed by Microsoft.
