Starboard Reiterates Yahoo Should Combine With AOL

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 9 January 2015 16:57 IST
Activist-investor Starboard Value LP has reiterated that Yahoo Inc should consider a merger with AOL Inc and cut costs to improve profits, spurred by media reports that Yahoo is exploring other large-scale acquisitions.

Starboard, in September, urged Yahoo to consider merging with AOL on the grounds that a deal could create up to $1 billion (roughly Rs. 6,245 crores) in "synergies" by reducing overlaps in online display advertising and other overhead costs.

The activist-investor holds stake in both companies.

Starboard said in a letter on Thursday that it was "increasingly concerned" by media reports of Yahoo planning acquisitions as it believed the company should first focus on monetizing its investments in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Yahoo Japan Corp.

Advertisement

Yahoo holds an approximately 15 percent stake in Alibaba valued at about $39.17 billion (roughly Rs. 2,47,953 crores) as of Wednesday's close and about an $8 billion (roughly Rs. 49,965 crores) stake in Yahoo Japan, as of September 30, 2014.

"A combination with AOL does make sense. They are two laggards who can combine forces and better compete with companies such as Google Inc," B. Riley & Co analyst Sameet Sinha said.

The Starboard letter highlighted reports speculating that Yahoo was considering buying cable assets, including Scripps Networks Interactive Inc and Time Warner's CNN.

Some large shareholders have also reached out directly to Starboard expressing their concern over the media reports, the activist-investor said.

Advertisement

Starboard disclosed a 7.7 million share stake in Yahoo and a 1.9 million share stake in AOL in November.

Yahoo's shares were up 2.4 percent at $49.75, while AOL was up 4.6 percent at $48.27 in afternoon trading on Thursday.

Advertisement

© Thomson Reuters 2015

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: AOL, Internet, Yahoo
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Oppo Find X9 Series Could Launch in India on This Date
  2. iQOO Neo 11 Launch, Design Teased; Pre-Reservations Begin Ahead of Debut
  3. Motorola Announces Ultra-Thin Galaxy S25 Edge, iPhone Air Competitor
  4. Realme GT 8 Series Launch Date Announced: See Expected Price, Features
  5. Microsoft Releases Final Windows 10 Update With These Bug Fixes
  6. Aurora Alert: Four Solar Eruptions Could Light Up the Skies This Week
  7. Nothing Phone 3a Lite BIS Listing Hints at Imminent India Launch
  8. Oppo Unveils ColorOS 16; Will Debut in India With Oppo Find X9 Series
  1. Scientists Solve Decades-Old Photosynthesis Puzzle With IISc–Caltech Study
  2. Solar Wind Cuts Comet Lemmon’s Tail In Rare Disconnection Event
  3. SpaceX Eyes V3 Rocket With Raptor 3 Engines After Wrapping Starship V2 Tests
  4. Researchers Develop Wetsuits That Protect Against Shark Bites And Stings
  5. Final Destination Bloodlines to Be Available for Streaming on JioHotstar Soon: What You Need to Know
  6. Caltech Unveils X1 Robot-Drone Hybrid Capable Of Walking, Driving And Flying
  7. Astronomers Detect Hints Of Hidden Earth-Sized Planet Beyond Neptune
  8. Pulsar Observations Could Reveal Gravitational Wave Interference From Black Holes
  9. Pawan Kalyan-Starrer They Call Him OG OTT Release: When, Where to Watch Action-Crime Film Online
  10. Solar Storm From Four Sun Eruptions Could Cause Minor Geomagnetic Activity
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.