Ballmer still open to Yahoo deal

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 25 Jun 2009 at 07:58

Microsoft, the world's largest software company, is still open to forging a deal with search giant Yahoo, Steve Ballmer says.

"We remain open to a partnership with Yahoo," Ballmer told a seminar at the Cannes Lion 2009 advertising festival.

Asked if a deal could be sealed in the next year, however, he said only, "Who knows?"

Ballmer did not give further details.

Microsoft offered to pay up to $47.5 billion for Yahoo early last year, but was rebuffed by Yahoo's former leadership.

There has been talk of a partnership between Microsoft and Yahoo in recent months, but no deal has emerged. Microsoft is also trying to challenge Google with its own new search engine called Bing.

Ballmer gave a cautious view over the prospects for the world economy, which has been hit by a financial crisis that arose from bank losses on home loans and complex debt instruments.

"I don't think we're in a recession," said Ballmer. "I don't assume there is a recovery. I think we reset to a lower level and the world economy will grow again from this reset level."

Ballmer said he was not sure if a full recovery would occur in one year or in two years from now.

Asked whether he was worried about a pending European Union antitrust ruling about bundling browsers with operating systems, Ballmer simply replied, "We comply with EU law."