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Thursday, 08 May 2008 Microsoft won't pursue other partnerships, says Gates

Microsoft won't be pursuing tie-ups or takeovers to replace the Yahoo deal

Martyn Williams

Microsoft won't be pursuing tie-ups or takeovers to replace its failed Yahoo bid, Bill Gates said in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Gates, who cofounded the software maker and serves as its chairman, said Microsoft had "put a lot of effort into talking to Yahoo."

Referencing comments made by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Gates said that "now at this point, Microsoft is focused on its independent strategy."

Microsoft spent three months courting Yahoo but dropped its pursuit on Saturday after the two sides failed to reach agreement on a takeover price. Microsoft had initially offered $31 per share and raised it to $33 per share to try and entice Yahoo but the search engine operator held out for $37 per share.

After final negotiations late last week Ballmer signaled to Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang that it was throwing in the towel.

"We continue to believe that our proposed acquisition made sense for Microsoft, Yahoo and the market as a whole. Our goal in pursuing a combination with Yahoo was to provide greater choice and innovation in the marketplace and create real value for our respective stockholders and employees," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in a statement distributed early Saturday evening.

On Monday Yang, facing pressure from shareholders, signaled that Yahoo is still open to an offer from Microsoft or another company as long as the company is not "undervalued."

"We've always felt the Yahoo platform has been undervalued or underappreciated by the marketplace,' he told Bloomberg News.

Gates was speaking in Tokyo and announced two schemes from Microsoft Japan. One promotes Windows Media Center and the other will provide Microsoft's software development tools at no charge to student developers.

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