As other technology companies such as Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. introduced new products and branched out into new markets, Yahoo fell behind. The one bright spot was its 40 percent stake in China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. In 2012, however, Yahoo agreed to sell back half its stock in a company that dominates a high-growth market in the world’s fastest-growing region. The deal, which Yahoo’s board approved unanimously, was worth $7 billion, of which Yahoo netted $3.65 billion after taxes and buybacks. This week, Yahoo used a chunk of that cash to buy Tumblr. Alex Bruna comments on Bloomberg.
William D. Cohan describes Tumblr’s boy wonder, and makes you think twice. Article