In the statement on Sunday, Microsoft announced it was “considering and has raised with Yahoo an alternative that would involve a transaction with Yahoo but not an acquisition of all of Yahoo.” According to the New York Times, "The timing of Microsoft’s new approach may seem opportunistic. Yahoo has been racing to complete its own partnership with Google and was expected to announce a formal agreement as early as this week. A Yahoo-Google partnership, which is likely to face antitrust scrutiny, could make Yahoo a less desirable partner or takeover candidate for Microsoft." Yahoo is also said to be facing a great deal of pressure from it's shareholders, some of whom are said to be furious that the board didn't work harder to strike a deal to sell the company to Microsoft.
