Microsoft and Yahoo may yet do business

A new transaction may soon be on the table between Microsoft and Yahoo, one that does not involve Microsoft acquiring all of Yahoo, the companies announced Sunday.

In a written statement, Yahoo said that Microsoft "is not interested in pursuing an acquisition of all of Yahoo! at this time." At the same time, Yahoo is still open to "any transaction which is in the best interest of our stockholders."

Microsoft confirmed this in its own statement saying, "Microsoft is not proposing to make a new bid to acquire all of Yahoo! at this time, but reserves the right to reconsider that alternative depending on future developments and discussions that may take place with Yahoo! or discussions with shareholders of Yahoo! or Microsoft or with other third parties."

The software giant initially offered Yahoo $31 per share in late January, a little more than 150 percent what the Yahoo stock was worth at the time. Microsoft withdrew its initial bid to buy Yahoo on May 3 after negotiations between the two companies stalled.

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