Yahoo AOL Merger Might Be In The Cards

Yahoo AOL merger might be in the cards. According to Bloomberg, Tim Armstrong, AOL’s Chief Executive Officer, is speaking with advisers to Yahoo about its interest to combine the companies. The source is from two people familiar with the matter, but they would not be identified as the talks are not public. Bloomberg says Armstrong had already pursued a Yahoo AOL merger, but got rejected when Carol Bartz was in charge.

Bloomberg:

Armstrong is discussing options for a combination aimed at strengthening the two Internet companies, said the people, who wouldn’t be identified because the talks aren’t public. He has talked with private equity firms and investment bankers from Allen & Co. working with Yahoo, one person said.

Armstrong had been interested in a merger with Yahoo last year and was rebuffed while Bartz was at the helm, one person said. Her departure prompted him to reconsider the option, and, under one scenario now being considered, Yahoo would acquire AOL and Armstrong would become CEO of the combined company, the person said.

Yahoo is unlikely to be interested in a deal for AOL at this time given the company’s losses and declining revenue, according to one person familiar with the matter. AOL’s market value is about $1.6 billion, while Yahoo’s is about $18.2 billion.

Graham James, a spokesman for AOL, and Kim Rubey, spokeswoman for Yahoo, declined to comment.

AOL and Yahoo have been struggling to compete against Internet companies such as Google Inc. (GOOG) and Facebook Inc. AOL has lost almost $800 million since it was spun off from Time Warner Inc. (TWX) in 2009. The Internet pioneer has struggled to make money from online advertising as its profitable dial-up Internet access business declines. AOL is also using Allen & Co. to consider its strategic options.
Yahoo’s Decline

Yahoo, the most-visited U.S. Web portal, fired Bartz on Sept. 6, after less than three years as CEO. Once an $80 billion company, Yahoo has fallen more than 80 percent as it lost Internet users and advertising revenue to Google and Facebook. Bartz was hired after Yahoo rejected a $47.5 billion offer from Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) in 2008.

Yahoo has been working with Allen & Co. and UBS AG for some time, according to Charles Sipkins, a spokesman for Yahoo’s board.

AOL, based in New York, fell 82 cents, or 5.3 percent, to $14.72 at 4 p.m. on New York Stock Exchange. Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo rose 4 cents to $14.48 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

What remains to be seen is how Jerry Yang will react to a possible Yahoo AOL merger.