Yahoo: Final Round Of Bidding Expected In Two Weeks

by @lauriesullivan, July 5, 2016

Companies bidding for Yahoo’s core assets will offer up a third round of bids Wednesday, according to Re/code, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Those remaining in the process — Verizon and a group headed by Quicken Loans’ Dan Gilbert, among others — were told the final selection process will take place around July 18. Bids are ranging from $3.5 billion to $5 billion, depending on whether they include patent and real estate assets.

Gilbert has the financial backing of Warren Buffett. The bid from Verizon is being led by AOL CEO Tim Armstrong. Other bidders include private equity players such as TPG.

Most of the patents focus on search and advertising. Innography uncovered details to better understand the stakes and value of the Excalibur portfolio, estimating that search makes up the majority of the portfolio, with online advertising between 15% and 20% and mobile between 10% and 20%.

About 33% of the Excalibur Ip portfolio is made up of pending patent applications, which means the buyer would need to pursue the application process for patents not previously granted, Tyron Stading, president and founder of Innography, previously told Search Marketing Daily.

Yahoo last week held what could have been its last shareholders meeting where CEO Marissa Mayer stood mum on the bids. “We have no announcements today, but continue to make great progress on our process,” Mayer said.

One investor during the meeting said he wanted to keep Yahoo shares in which Mayer explained that pursuing the separation of its equity assets from its operating business, the Internet business with products and services — search, mobile and others — will unlock “substantial value.”

 

MediaPost.com: Search Marketing Daily

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