Yahoo Battles Google In Asia (YHOO, GOOG, YAHOF)

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Yahoo Inc
YHOO
is seeking to transfer its stake in Asian business efforts, in an effort to divert assets and attention to rebuilding its market share and battling Google
GOOG
, according to
Reuters
. Currently, Yahoo
YHOO
has a 35% stake in Yahoo Japan
YAHOF
but is in talks to transfer that stake to Softbank Corp, a Japanese mobile phone operator. Softbank currently has a 42% stake in Yahoo Japan. Yahoo's stake in Yahoo Japan is worth around $8 billion currently. If this deal comes to fruition, it would possibly lead to Yahoo choosing to also sell its share of the Chinese market, where it owns about 40% of the Internet company Alibaba Group. Because the Japanese market is mature and stable, purchasing Yahoo's portion of the company could be viewed positively by investors, but the Chinese market is a much more controversial decision. Yahoo has several different options for transferring its stake in Yahoo Japan. A straightforward sale is highly unlikely, because of tax reasons. A much more likely solution would be an asset swap or Yahoo issuing a tracking stock, both of which are tax-free options. Issuing a tracking stock would track the performance of the stock without conferring ownership, which does not require the approval of Softbank's founder and major shareholder Masayoshi Son. This would result in shareholder dilution, likely leading to a lowered valuation of Yahoo Japan. A stock swap deal would be the most beneficial for Softbank. A deal could be reached within a few weeks. Yahoo is currently under pressure to regain its once powerful share in the U.S., as it has lost significant internet traffic to Google and Facebook. Yahoo's market value has reduced to about $21.5 billion, while Google's market value has tripled to approximately $200 billion.
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Posted In: M&AGlobalMoversTechInformation TechnologyInternet Software & Services
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