US in danger of losing green-tech competition, experts say

TECHNOLOGY
- Infrastructure
  - Network
  - Security
    - Virus
    - Intruder
    - Spyware
    - Spam
    - Theft
    - Disaster Recovery
    - Privacy
    - Regulatory Compliance
  - Client
    - Desktop
    - Laptop
    - Laptop - Macbook
    - PDA
  - Server
    - Load Balancing
  - Mobile
  - Operating Systems
    - Windows
    - Windows - Vista
    - Linux
    - Mac
    - Mac - Leopard
    - Unix
    - Other
  - Data Center
  - Virtualization
- Applications
  - SaaS
  - Cloud Computing
  - ERP
  - CRM
  - BI
  - BPM
  - KM
  - SCM
  - RFID
  - Middleware/EAI
  - Portals
    - B-to-B
    - Consumer
  - Inventory Management
  - Databases
  - Document Management
  - E-Business
  - Data Warehouse
- Development
  - Open Source
  - Eclipse
  - Java
  - .NET
  - Agile
  - Web Services
- Architecture
  - SOA
  - Enterprise Architecture
LEADERSHIP

IT DRILLDOWN

NEWSLETTERS

CIO.com updates, insights and advice on technology, management and your career.

RSS Feeds »

LEADERSHIP

CIO Executive Programs

The Leader in Face-to-Face Education for Senior Executives

Offering regional and national programs, CIO (and CSO) events bring together some of the most respected names and thought leaders in information technology and security. Presented by CIOs and other senior level executives, these invitation-only programs offer timely topics and strong networking. Learn More »

CIO Executive Council

A Peer-Advisory Service and Professional Association for CIOs

Social Responsibility's Strategic Benefits

December 15, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM US/Eastern (GMT-5)

Join Ed Granger-Happ, CIO of Save the Children, for a discussion of how creating an organization that is socially responsible improves staffing, retention, leadership development and overall corporate health.

Working With and Communicating to Your Board of Directors

January 13, 2009, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM US/Eastern (GMT-5)

CIO panelists who will share tips and experiences working with their boards: Twila Day of SYSCO; Jeff O'Hare, West Corp.; Marc West, formerly with H&R Block.

IT's Role in Growing Mid-Market Companies

January 14, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET (GMT-5)

Mid-market Council members will share their companies' stories and challenges in driving or coping with growth. Panelists represent Veterinary Pet Insurance, Medicis Pharmaceutical, and Intrax Cultural Exchange.

More / Register »

Learn more about the CIO Executive Council »

RESOURCE CENTER

buy a link »

SUBSCRIBE TO CIO

Are you involved in setting the direction for your company's IT budget or strategy?

Apply today for a FREE subscription to CIO Magazine!

Subscription Services »

Reprints »

News

Icahn Said to Be Mulling Yahoo Proxy Fight

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is reportedly mulling a proxy fight against Yahoo's current board members in order to pressure the company to re-establish merger negotiations with Microsoft.

Leave a comment

By Juan Carlos Perez

May 13, 2008 — IDG News Service —

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is reportedly mulling a proxy fight against Yahoo's current board members in order to pressure the company to re-establish merger negotiations with Microsoft.

Icahn has bought as many as 50 million Yahoo shares since Microsoft walked away from the deal, according to reports Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal and on CNBC, which both quoted anonymous sources familiar with the situation.

However, Microsoft hasn't indicated to Icahn that it would return to the negotiating table, and Icahn hasn't decided whether he will go through with the proxy fight, the reports said.

Yahoo investors have until Thursday to nominate candidates to the board, whose 10 incumbent directors are all up for re-election this year when Yahoo holds its shareholders' meeting in July. Separately from Icahn's plans, other large investors are considering getting into the fray, the Journal reported.

Icahn did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Microsoft and Yahoo declined to comment.

The news was first reported by CNBC in the mid-afternoon, helping to give a lift to Yahoo's stock, which closed up 5 percent to US$26.56 on the Nasdaq.

Microsoft announced its $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo on Feb. 1 but walked away from the deal three months later, on May 3, saying the companies couldn't agree on a price. Microsoft's last offer was for $33 per share, or about $5 billion more than its original offer, but Yahoo wanted $37 per share.

Since then, various big Yahoo shareholders have expressed their displeasure with Yahoo's board and management for, in their view, not negotiating in good faith with Microsoft and causing the talks to collapse. Yahoo formally rejected Microsoft's original offer on Feb. 11, saying it undervalued the company.

On Monday, May 5, the first day of trading after Microsoft's offer withdrawal, Yahoo's stock lost significant value, closing down 15 percent at $24.37, after dropping as low as $22.97 during the day.

Last week, Yahoo cofounder and CEO Jerry Yang and other top Yahoo executives tried to shift the blame to Microsoft, alleging that the $33-per-share offer was never put in writing and that Microsoft unexpectedly walked away at a time when Yahoo was still open to negotiating.

At the same time, Microsoft's top brass, including Chairman Bill Gates, have repeatedly said that Microsoft has closed the book on its attempts to buy Yahoo and that it is moving on to other options, namely growing its Internet business "organically," meaning via internal efforts and not big acquisitions.