A number of private investors are expected to make offers for Yahoo! this week, according to various reports. Private-equity firm Silver Lake is working with Microsoft to bid for a minority stake in Yahoo!, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Andreessen Horowitz, a venture-capital firm, is also weighing a possible bid for Yahoo and hasn't decided whether to join the Silver Lake-led group, another source said. Private-equity firm TPG Capital also has signed a non- disclosure agreement to size up a possible bid, people close to the company have said. Yahoo's advisers have asked that bids be submitted this week. Interested parties were required to sign the NDA to receive management presentations and more access to confidential financial information. Reuters reports that Thomas H. Lee Partners is interested in buying the US operations of Yahoo in a leveraged buyout which could be worth USD 5-6 billion. It would draw on its experience running other media assets such as Nielsen Co, Clear Channel and Univision to turn around the ailing company, the news wire said. Silver Lake, KKR and TPG are taking a different approach and are expected to put in bids for a stake of up to 20 percent. Reuters' sources also said Microsoft is supporting the Silver Lake bid. Yahoo's board is expected to meet on 29 November to assess the possibility of a minority investment.
