BY
Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O)
executives are in early talks with potential Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O)
investors about contributing to financing to buy the troubled Internet company,
a person familiar with the situation said.
The
talks are preliminary, the person added, and Microsoft is focused on preserving
the relationship between the two companies. Microsoft and Yahoo have
longstanding search and advertising agreements.
Private
equity firms interested in Yahoo approached Microsoft, the person added.
Microsoft declined to comment.
Yahoo is auctioning its core Internet business,
which includes search, mail and news sites. The faded Internet pioneer has been
struggling to keep up with Alphabet Inc's Google and Facebook Inc in the battle
for online advertisers.
Verizon's Chief Financial Officer Fran
Shammo said in December that the U.S. wireless carrier could look at buying
Yahoo's core business if it was a good fit.
Activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP
moved on Thursday to overthrow the entire board of Yahoo, including Chief
Executive Marissa Mayer, who has struggled to turn the company around in her
nearly four years at the helm.
Microsoft's interest in Yahoo comes nearly
a decade after another approach. In 2008, then-CEO Steve Ballmer tried
unsuccessfully to buy Yahoo for about $45 billion.
Website Re/code previously reported
meetings between Microsoft and investors.
(Reporting
Sarah McBride, editing by Peter Henderson and Hugh Lawson)
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