Time Inc may buy Yahoo's core search, mail and news business, report says
Time Inc, the publisher of Sports Illustrated, People and Time magazine, is considering a deal to buy the core business of Yahoo Inc, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Time has heard a presentation from Citigroup bankers on pursuing a deal with Yahoo, the Bloomberg report said, adding that Citigroup had not been retained by Time.
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Yahoo officially launched the sale of its core business, which includes search, mail and news sites, last week.
Time could pursue a Reverse Morris Trust transaction, a tax-free deal in which one company merges with a spun-off unit, Bloomberg reported.
Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer would not be part of the company under such a deal, Bloomberg reported, citing one of its sources.
Time declined to comment on the Bloomberg report while Yahoo and Citigroup could not immediately be reached for comment.
Verizon Communications Inc, which owns internet pioneer AOL, is also seen as a potential buyer for Yahoo’s core business.
Time, which has seen print advertising dollars dry up in recent quarters, has been trying to boost its digital presence through acquisitions of online properties. It said earlier this month it would buy the early social networking site MySpace.
Shares of Time were down 1.5% in morning trading on Tuesday.