Microsoft Offers $45 Billion to Purchase Yahoo, Sonics Win Second Game in a Row: SeattleIAM

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from SeattleIAM where you will find the best blogs from Seattle, Washington as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Yahoo Offer is Largest Bid in Microsoft History

John Cook’s Venture Blog announces that Microsoft “is offering to buy Yahoo for $45 billion as it attempts to catch Google in the battle for Internet users.” This purchase would be the largest acquisition in Microsoft's history. “If approved, the buyout could transform the tech industry and have wide-ranging implications for Seattle's role in it.”

Recent chatter on CNBC discussed whether any other companies would join in the bidding. Other possibilities mentioned were AT&T, News Corp., Time Warner, Liberty Media and Barry Diller's IAC, but “the conclusion was that each of those companies are preoccupied with other acquisitions or issues, which basically has opened the door for Microsoft.” Several analysts have pointed out that Microsoft's bid may be so high, it could “scare off any other suitor.”

The post reports reaction from Kevin Cable, executive vice president at Seattle investment bank Cascadia Capital. “It makes all the sense in the world given Google's dominance,” he says, “and Microsoft is one of the few buyers that could swallow such a large transaction.” He states that the transaction is the easy part, but “the trick is how you integrate the cultures after the deal is done.”  Cable states that Microsoft hasn't really been successful “in building a web presence organically.” If they can integrate successfully, it may catapult the combined company “into a much stronger position going forward.”

Sonics Take Cavaliers (101-95) for Second Win in a Row

From Super Sonic Soul, a report on the Sonic’s two game win streak, the fourth one this season. Our blogger chalks it up to “well rounded offense - and the fact the lead they had at one point (81-58) was so big even the Sonics couldn't give it away.” The Cavaliers, who were missing their star LeBron James last night due to an ankle injury, “went on a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter to make it interesting, but Carlesimo let the starters back in, and they managed to right the ship in time.”

In the post, our blogger gives “kudos” to solid efforts by Earl Watson, Kurt Thomas, Chris Wilcox, Jeff Green, and Kevin Durant. “The Sonics finished with twice as many assists (34-18) as the Cavs, with the Earl picking up 12 on his own.” It was good to see Jeff Green post positive numbers after a pitiful game against the Spurs. “Green came out shooting 8 for 8 with 17 points, including 1 for 1 from long-range.”

A Win for Affordable Housing

A recent post on Slog reports that at least one affordable housing space has been saved in Seattle. Jonah Spangenthal-Lee writes that “after months of protest, angry letters fo City Councilmembers, and speculation about sales,” Ballard’s Lock Vista Apartments will remain a rental property. Complaints were filed after an announcement that the building would be converted into condos.

According to the post, “the building owners are offering new leases, and are also giving residents $300 credits on their rent for the disruption caused by the the now-dead sale.” Although the building may still be sold in the future, “residents at Lock Vista can breathe easy for a while.” Spangenthal-Lee asks “what this means for our housing market, if anything,” as the deal was “one of the larger conversion projects in the city.”

Weyerhaeuser May Sell Commercial Construction Sales Division

Marce Edwards over at the Biz Buzz writes that Weyerhaeuser Co. “is considering selling its commercial construction sales business.” Lee Alford, senior vice president of Residential Wood Products says they are “positioning” their Wood Products business “to grow in areas that present the greatest opportunities for our shareholders and employees.” They are proceeding with “a strategic alternatives review” in order to focus on their “core strategies in the residential structural frame market… [and] ensure that the Commercial

Business is optimized for long-term growth.”

The company's press release states that the business “includes three manufacturing plants across the United States and operates 13 design and sales offices.” There are about 320 employees “concentrated in the Northwest, Southwest and East” who serve the business, which has been in operation for 45 years “designing and delivering unique wood-based building solutions.”  The company has faced “slumping sales and falling prices for many of its core products,” according to the post. They have sold or closed “many mills and operations around the country including several in Western Washington.”

About SeattleIAM

SeattleIAM is part of a groundbreaking network of city-focused blog aggregation, user generated media and social networking websites currently rolling out across North America. Each IAM website filters and organizes blog content as well as offering video upload capabilities, social networking, blog authoring, favourites lists and rumours. The IAM Network is a division of SoMedia Networks Inc which also operates Inveslogic.com, Greenedia.com, Healthedia.com and Blabaloo.com. For more information or to register an account, visit SeattleIAM.com.