Yahoo Announces Non-Exclusive Search Agreement With Google
by Michael Arrington on June 12, 2008

Well, it was a little later than we expected, but Yahoo has announced a non-exclusive deal with Google around search and search advertising. Yahoo’s press release is below and their blog post is here.

Additionally, Google’s press release on the announcement can be found here and their blog post here.


Yahoo! to Strengthen Competitive Position in Online Advertising Through Non-Exclusive Agreement With Google

Agreement Advances Yahoo!’s Open Strategy; Enhances Ability to Compete in Converging Search and Display Marketplace

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet company, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Google Inc. that will enhance its ability to compete in the converging search and display marketplace, advancing the company’s open strategy. The agreement enables Yahoo! to run ads supplied by Google alongside Yahoo!’s search results and on some of its web properties in the United States and Canada. The agreement is non-exclusive, giving Yahoo! the ability to display paid search results from Google, other third parties, and Yahoo!’s own Panama marketplace.

Under the terms of the agreement, Yahoo! will select the search term queries for which – and the pages on which – Yahoo! may offer Google paid search results. Yahoo! will define its users’ experience and will determine the number and placement of the results provided by Google and the mix of paid results provided by Panama, Google or other providers. The agreement applies to paid search and content match and does not apply to algorithmic search. The agreement also applies to current partners in Yahoo’s publisher network.

Yahoo! CEO and co-founder Jerry Yang said, “We believe that the convergence of search and display is the next major development in the evolution of the rapidly changing online advertising industry. Our strategies are specifically designed to capitalize on this convergence — and this agreement helps us move them forward in a significant way. It also represents an important next step in our open strategy, building on the progress we have already made in advancing a more open marketplace.”

“This agreement provides a source of funds to both deliver financial value to stockholders from search monetization and to invest in our broader strategy to transform display advertising and advance our starting point objectives with users,” said Yahoo! President Sue Decker. “It enhances competition by promoting our ability to compete in the marketplace where we are especially well positioned: in the convergence of search and display.”

Agreement Provides Attractive Economics and Enhances Search Monetization

Yahoo! believes that this agreement will enable the Company to better monetize Yahoo!’s search inventory in the United States and Canada. At current monetization rates, this is an approximately $800 million annual revenue opportunity. In the first 12 months following implementation, Yahoo! expects the agreement to generate an estimated $250 million to $450 million in incremental operating cash flow.

The agreement will enhance Yahoo!’s ability to achieve its goal to grow operating cash flow significantly, while at the same time providing flexibility to continue to invest in ongoing initiatives such as algorithmic search innovation and search and display advertising platforms. It gives Yahoo! complete flexibility to continue to use its Panama paid search results.

Significant Benefits Will Flow to Users, Advertisers, Publishers and Employees

Users will also benefit from Yahoo!’s ability to invest incremental operating cash flow in ongoing improvements to its search services, building upon recent major innovations such as Search Assist and SearchMonkey. Advertisers will continue to benefit from multiple marketplace alternatives including Panama, Google and others. Publishers will benefit from a winning combination of distribution, monetization and services to help them grow their businesses. The financial benefits will enable Yahoo! to broaden the scope of its investments and initiatives, enhancing Yahoo!’s ability to offer attractive career opportunities to its employees.

Terms of the Agreement

The agreement will enable Yahoo! to run ads supplied by Google’s AdSense™ for Search and AdSense™ for Content services next to Yahoo!’s internally generated paid search and algorithmic search results. Yahoo may also run Google-supplied ads on non-search Yahoo web properties, as well as on current members of its partner network. The agreement has a term of up to ten years: a four-year initial term and two, three-year renewals at Yahoo!’s option. It applies to Yahoo!’s operations in the U.S. and Canada only. Advertisers will continue to pay Yahoo! directly for clicks served by Yahoo! from Yahoo!’s Panama and Content Match marketplaces. Advertisers will pay Google directly for each click on Google paid search results appearing on Yahoo! owned and operated network or certain affiliate sites. Google will share a percentage of such revenue with Yahoo!.

In addition, Yahoo! and Google agreed to enable interoperability between their respective instant messaging services, bringing easier and broader communication to users.

The agreement allows either party to terminate the agreement in the event of a change in control of either party. The agreement also requires Yahoo! to pay a termination fee if the agreement is terminated as a result of a change in control that occurs within 24 months. The termination fee is $250 million, subject to reduction by 50 percent of revenues earned by Google under the agreement.

Although Google and Yahoo! are not required to receive regulatory approval of the deal before implementing it, the companies have voluntarily agreed to delay implementation for up to three and a half months while the U.S. Department of Justice reviews the arrangement.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers and Moelis & Company are acting as financial advisors to Yahoo!. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal advisor to Yahoo!, and Munger Tolles & Olson LLP is acting as counsel to the outside directors of Yahoo!.

Yahoo! will host a conference call to discuss the agreement with Google at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time today. To listen to the call live, please dial 877-391-6847 (reservation number 70308474#). A live audiocast of the conference call can be accessed through the Company’s Investor Relations website at http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/index.cfm. In addition, an archive of the audiocast can be accessed through the same link. An audio replay of the call will be available following the conference call by calling 888-286-8010 (reservation number 84138579).

About Yahoo! Inc.

Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo! is focused on powering its communities of users, advertisers, publishers, and developers by creating indispensable experiences built on trust. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release refers to operating cash flow (operating income before depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, and stock-based compensation expense, or OCF), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The most comparable GAAP measure is income from operations. With respect to the OCF numbers provided in this release, the estimate of income from operations is the same as the estimated OCF, as the Company does not expect to incur any additional depreciation and amortization or stock-based compensation expense related to this agreement.

Forward Looking Statements

This release (including without limitation the statements and information in the quotations from management in this press release) contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Yahoo!’s projected financial performance as well as Yahoo!’s strategic and operational plans. Actual results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the expected benefits of the services agreement with Google may not be realized, including as a result of actions taken by United States or foreign regulatory authorities and the response or acceptance of the agreement by publishers, advertisers, users and employees; the implementation and results of Yahoo!’s ongoing strategic initiatives; Yahoo!’s ability to compete with new or existing competitors; reduction in spending by, or loss of, marketing services customers; the demand by customers for Yahoo!’s premium services; acceptance by users of new products and services; risks related to joint ventures and the integration of acquisitions; risks related to Yahoo!’s international operations; failure to manage growth and diversification; adverse results in litigation, including intellectual property infringement claims; Yahoo!’s ability to protect its intellectual property and the value of its brands; dependence on key personnel; dependence on third parties for technology, services, content and distribution; general economic conditions and changes in economic conditions; and potential continuing uncertainty arising in connection with the withdrawal of Microsoft’s unsolicited proposal to acquire Yahoo!, and the announced intention by a stockholder to seek control of our Board of Directors, the possibility that Microsoft or another person may in the future make another proposal, or take other actions which may create uncertainty for our employees, publishers, advertisers and other business partners, and the possibility of significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability resulting from stockholder litigation relating to the Microsoft proposal. More information about potential factors that could affect Yahoo!’s business and financial results is included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Yahoo!’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as amended, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All information in this release is as of June 12, 2008, unless otherwise noted, and Yahoo! does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update or otherwise revise the information contained in this release.

Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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Comments

This is kinda like Congress passing non-binding resolutions, eh? Completely useless.

 

Reposting, now that it’s official that there’s a deal between Yahoo! and Google.

That internal e-mail from Yahoo! that was obtained through the shareholder actions where Yahoo! admits that a deal with Google would be anticompetitive is probably going to come back and bite them in the rear.

From http://news.wired.com/dynamic/…..3-07-06-06

“But a document that Yahoo prepared for an “all-hands” internal meeting Jan. 30 - the day before Ballmer called Yang with the takeover offer - indicated the company wasn’t sure teaming up with Google would be a smart move.

The hopes for short-term gains from an ad partnership with Google “may not take into account the longer term impact on the competitive market if search becomes an effective monopoly,” the document said, according to an excerpt released Monday.”

 

Sounds like Yahoo signed up for an Adsense account.

 

I was expecting more than this!

 

Ichann’s going to love that change of control termination fee of $250M as well. Wonder if they did that just to piss him off

 

Great, so Google just overflowed its content network to Yahoo.

 

Good move, keep hope alive Yahoo!

 

I can’t help but feel this is a win for Google and a two-time loss for Yahoo! Unbelievable.

 

“Desperados. Why don’t you come to your senses”!

 

It certainly promotes openness - Google gets a great opening into Yahoo!

 

This feels like more of a win for Google, than Yahoo!? Seriously?!

 

Google has provided it’s press release as well!

Google Press Release >> Our agreement to provide ad technology to Yahoo! >>http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/our-agreement-to-provide-ad-technology.html

 

This is insane on so many levels. Might as well just transfer control of Yahoo to Google at this point. This is similar to Ford outsourcing its cars to be built in Honda plants.

 

So to grow their business they felt it best to partner with their biggest competitor? LOL.

Due to disclosure requirements there will probably be some sort of “Ads by Google” type description. This is only going to drive more search users to Google; and many that will stop using Yahoo completely.

This is the beginning of the end for Yahoo.

I think a massive reason why Yahoo missed the boat was how they ran Overture. They failed to listen to their customers and adapt and it really hurt them.

Anyone remember how Overture made you wait like A WEEK before you could start running PPC campaigns? It was IDIOTIC. Google stepped up with AdWords and made it LIVE. You could start paying for traffic within 5 minutes. Yahoo on the other hand made 1,000s of customers wait several days before they could give Yahoo their money.

 

@stephen

since when is an estimated $250 million to $450 million in incremental operating cash flow a loss to Yahoo?

 

This is a BIG deal, “In addition, Yahoo! and Google agreed to enable interoperability between their respective instant messaging services, bringing easier and broader communication to users.”

gTalk and Yahoo Messenger…. talking together, just like the Yahoo Messenger/Windows Messenger deal. If they can get AOL (and/or Skype) on board, you will only need to get Yahoo messenger and you can chat with pretty much anyone, no matter what service they use.

This was a big win for Yahoo, even if the overall deal was not.

 

Use YMessenger??? Ya right. GTalk

 

I wonder what the underlying legal agreements entail. What if yahoo innovates over the life of the partnership, creating something (hypothetically) to rival Google’s search? http://www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?rta=blog

 

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet company, announced today that it has reached …..

I love that they keep using this in all their releases…. THEY ARE NOT A LEADING INTERNET COMPANY!! if they were, they wouldnt let a competitor in the door and see what is going on such as google… just like any other business wouldnt.

 

I am more glad than ever that I”m not a YHOO shareholder. What boneheaded moves…all in the name of personal ego. Yang never learned from Ellison or from McNealy. They let their personal feelings about not being richer than Gates get in the way of good decision making. Of course, those who are willing supporters (e.g. shareholders) are the real losers in such cases.

Business before ego…how many times do we have to learn this lesson?

 
 

Its hard to fault Yahoo! for taking this route. Everyone seems to be after them! The poor guy (Yang) has to do something. So this is not at all surprising. This arrangement will actually earn them a decent chunk of cash and make MS horribly upset and nervous as Google expands its hold on the search market.

 

This is good news for Entrepreneurs.

Yahoo cannot innovate and would be smart to go on a shopping spree.

Same goes for MSoft.

 

This just reeks of Yahoo’s current strategy, which seems to be remain independent at all costs . Is remaining an independent company really that important? You know this can only be the first step. The way I see it this is a way to get their foot in the door without the regulators jumping all over them, but there is more to come in the future.

My Call:
phase 1 - run ads alongside google’s
phase 2 - share the google platform
phase 3 - convert everyone to google platform, and drop panama
phase 4 - collect fat check from google for selling all of their traffic
phase 5 - renegotiate contract with Google after mothballing the platform and the department and find out they have Y! at the business end of a very bad deal because there is no one else to sell their ads to. Just ask AOL, they know.

 

Why only in the US and CA, when they do better than Google in those two countries. Why not every other country but US and CA, that would have made a lot more sense. And probably would have brought in 5-6x what the US and CA deal will bring in. Somebody buy this company or just fire the people who make these decisions.

 

Non exclusive deal? I’ll have to agree with ImageCo. Yahoo has just done what sites do that can’t figure out how to properly monetize their sites. Slap on GoogleAds…

 

If Yahoo Messenger can talk to Windows Messenger, and soon, Yahoo Messenger to Gtalk, does that mean Windows Messenger can talk to Gtalk?

 

Kind of a sad moment for the most part.

Harry “not that I used Yahoo much” Wang

 

Great job reporting on this…. your ability to copy and paste press releases is really impressive.

 

Great move Yahoo!

For all the naysayers, please consider the following:

1. Yahoo! understands it can’t develop a better search engine than Google. It is better to accept your short-comings and start improving on your strong-points.

YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook are not search based sites. Are they? Still they are among the Top 10 sites based on page-views. Even Google knows that. Why else would they acquire YouTube and Orkut?

2. Yahoo! should always be an independent company. A Microsoft merger would have killed the Yahoo! spirit. Personally I don’t like any of Microsoft’s web platform. And being a staunch Yahoo user, it would be a nightmare to see all those wonderful web tools acquire Microsoft’s WebUI look&feel and not-so-user-friendly interfaces… Yuck :( This would have lead users away from Yahoo.

3. Agreed that Google is the ultimate winner here. Still it gives Yahoo! enough breathing space to work on the next revolutionary product(s).

4. This deal might pave more way for more future partnerships. Gmail type functionality in Yahoo! mail (or better yet a common interface for users who use both services). Yahoo! mail could use context sensitive-ads like gmail too. Yahoo! mail could directly integrate Google Docs for attachments.

As much as I love TC, it is getting ridiculous how you cover Yahoo-Google deal in such a negative tone.

 

Sounds like Yahoo signed up for an Adsense account.

 

I agree the deal open a new way for future partnership or strategic alliance, also this could be considered as a major development from which both the advertiser and publisher would be benefited but I am not sure how much it would help the search users unless any such revolutionary product is launched with joint effort.

 

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