In a statement Monday, Microsoft confirmed that it would be interested in resuming talks with Yahoo with a new board of directors, both to buy the search business or the entire company.Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who has been pushing for a deal with Microsoft and has proposed a new slate of Yahoo directors, also issued a letter Monday, confirming that he has discussed the scenario "frequently" during the past week with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and other executives.
Yahoo officials were not immediately available for comment. In its statement, Microsoft said that, after Yahoo"s shareholder meeting this quarter, it would be "interested in discussing with a new board a major transaction with Yahoo!, such as either a transaction to purchase the "Search" function with large financial guarantees or, in the alternative, purchasing the whole company."