Mr. Icahn launched a proxy battle to take over the Yahoo board and offer the Internet search company to Microsoft after an unsolicited buyout offer from Microsoft fell through. Mr. Icahn insisted that buying Yahoo was in the best interests of both companies, but Yahoo contended that the offer was undervalued and a bad move for investors.
Yahoo also created a new “retention plan” should another company take over. The plan awards employees a large severance package if they are fired without cause, or quit for “good reason,” following a buyout. Mr. Icahn called the move a “poison pill,” and investors think it could result in an employee exodus — which would be bad news for Yahoo, Microsoft, and both companyis stock value.
Investors are also concerned that Mr. Icahn appears to have only one plan in place if his proxy board is voted in: sell Yahoo to Microsoft.
Assuming Microsoft is even interested in returning to the negotiating table, it would likely make an offer around US$28 a share, below the $33 it offered earlier this year. If Microsoft isnit interested in a deal, and Mr. Icahn canit swing a deal with Google, Yahoois stock could potentially drop down to $20 — well below the $25 a share options he is holding now.
With more investors losing faith in the Yahoo proxy takeover plan and stock prices dropping, Mr. Icahnis gamble may leave him on the losing end of the deal.