Microsoft wants to swallow Yahoo for almost 45 billion dollars

 There may soon be an elephant wedding in the digital world: the software giant Microsoft wants to take over the weakening search engine operator Yahoo. The Windows manufacturer submitted a takeover bid on Friday afternoon. It wants to pay 44.6 billion dollars for Yahoo. Shareholders are to receive 31 dollars per share. Microsoft is thus offering a premium of 62 percent on the last share price on Thursday. The deal is causing euphoria among investors, as various media report. Together, the two companies could move closer to market leader Google in the Internet search engine business. Yahoo has been struggling with numerous difficulties in recent times. Yahoo's share price had been falling practically without interruption for two years. Profits fell by almost a quarter in the final quarter of 2007 and Yahoo is also expecting difficulties in the current year. The company plans to cut around 1,000 jobs internationally. Former CEO Terry Semel also stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors on January 31.