Apple: America's Most Admired Company

Apple took the top spot in Fortune Magazine's "America's Most Admired Companies" ranking for 2008. Google came in at number four and Microsoft made it into the Top 20 at number sixteen.

The Industry Champions list is worth looking at as well. Anheuser-Busch is not only the King of Beers but the King of Beverages. Altria Group is the champion of the tobacco industry. I guess thats a good thing... Two companies with a large presence in Florida made the Industry Champions list. Publix Super Markets took the top spot in the "food and drug stores" category, and FPL Group (Florida Power and Light) took the honors in the "electric and gas utilities" category.

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Komodo Links: It's all about Microsoft and Yahoo

It's the end of the week so that means it's time for Komodo Links. Yes I'm still in the office on a Friday night. We're heading out for the IFA annual convention tomorrow so we've been tying up all the loose ends today. This week's Komodo Links has a laser focus. It's all about Microsoft and Yahoo.

• Microhoo At One Week: Decision Nears? Yahoo Brand to Survive?
  
• Yes it's another open letter addressed to someone who is involved with the Microhoo deal. An Open Letter to Steve Ballmer.
  
• Is it too late for Yahoo? I have both feet in the maybe camp.
• Congress delays first hearing on Microsoft's Yahoo bid. Congress delaying something...that's about as surprising as the sun rising. ;)
  
• Yahoo and Microsoft: Will 'Microhoo' be the ultimate community? I'm pretty sure Google and a few others will have something to say about that.

Have a great weekend everybody.

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Yahoo is Feeling the Pressure from Microsoft's Bid

Yahoo! is feeling cornered after Microsoft made its takeover bid last week. The Yahoo! board said it would take its time to review the Microsoft bid. They haven't acted on the bid yet.

The New York Times posted an article reviewing the current situation with some great commentary from Wall Street analysts. The article also explores some other options open to Yahoo! if they decide to decline the Microsoft bid, including an advertising partnership with Google, courting other buyers, or forcing a leveraged buyout to take the company private.

Some highlights from the article:

But if Yahoo spurns Microsoft, analysts believe it probably will have to swallow its pride and forge an advertising partnership with Google if the alliance could win antitrust clearance.

Under this scenario, Yahoo would rely on Google to run its search engine while joining thousands of other Web sites that depend on the Internet search leader for a steady stream of ad revenue generated from text-based links that produce commissions with every click.

But getting Google's advertising help probably wouldn't be enough to trump Microsoft's offer by itself. To placate shareholders, Yahoo probably would have to line up enough money to pay a special dividend or perhaps even take the company private in a leveraged buyout.

The list of so-called ''white knights'' willing to come to Yahoo's rescue appears to be dwindling. Several of the most logical candidates, including News Corp., AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp., reportedly have no interest in trying to top Microsoft's bid.

Yahoo's board conceivably could even turn down Microsoft on the grounds that the current offer grossly undervalues the company, given its stock traded as high as high as $34.08 in late October.

If Yahoo assumes that stance, it might provoke a showdown at its annual meeting in a few months. Microsoft has until March 13 to nominate its own slate of directors if it tries to seize control of Yahoo's board.

What do you think Yahoo should do? Should they take the Microsoft offer, partner with Google, or something else? Let us know.

I personally like the suggestion made by the Merrill Lynch analyst Justin Post, who "believes Yahoo should dangle the prospect of a Google partnership to persuade Microsoft to raise its bid and then accept the higher offer." Microsoft could call their bluff believing that either Yahoo won't approach Google or that regulators would deny the partnership on anti-trust grounds. I don't believe they would call the bluff though. I think Microsoft is just too eager to get this deal done.

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Microsoft Proposes Acquisition of Yahoo! for $31 per Share

The proposed deal, valued at approximately $44.6 billion in cash and stock, would provide a 62% premium to current trading price for Yahoo! stockholders. Microsoft claims the combined entity would be a more competitive company while offering greater value to stockholders and a better choice for customers.

Read the full press release.

Some highlights from the release:

The online advertising market is growing at a very fast pace, from over $40 billion in 2007 to nearly $80 billion by 2010. The resulting benefits of scale along with the associated capital costs for advertising platform providers make this a time of industry consolidation and convergence. Today this market is increasingly dominated by one player. Together, Microsoft and Yahoo! can offer a competitive choice while better fulfilling the needs of customers and partners.

The combination will create a more efficient company with synergies in four areas: scale economics driven by audience critical mass and increased value for advertisers; combined engineering talent to accelerate innovation; operational efficiencies through elimination of redundant cost; and the ability to innovate in emerging user experiences such as video and mobile. Microsoft believes these four areas will generate at least $1 billion in annual synergy for the combined entity.

Microsoft has developed a plan and process that will include the employees of both companies to focus on the integration of the combined business. Microsoft intends to offer significant retention packages to Yahoo! engineers, key leaders and employees across all disciplines.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

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