Microsoft poised for Yahoo! possibilities

REDMOND, Wash., May 19 (UPI) -- Microsoft says it has not given up hope of joining forces with Yahoo!, and is again poised to consider the possibility of purchasing the company.

Microsoft broke away from negotiations for purchasing Yahoo! on May 3, then issued a statement saying it would seek to expand its Internet presence independent of Yahoo!

Since then, however, activist investor Carl Icahn has bought $1.5 billion worth of Yahoo! shares and begun a proxy fight to unseat all 10 Yahoo! board members in an effort to keep Microsoft in the game.

Microsoft said Sunday it is ready for various possibilities.

"An alternative … would involve a transaction with Yahoo! but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo!" said a Microsoft statement issued Sunday.

The company is considering a narrower approach that would involve partnering with Yahoo! on advertising, an effort to keep Yahoo! from joining forces with Google, The New York Times reported Monday.

Microsoft's statement did not name Icahn. But it said Microsoft "reserves the right to reconsider (purchasing all of Yahoo!) depending on future developments and discussions that may take place … with shareholders of Yahoo!."