There’s an ultra-slim chance that Microsoft’s $44.6bn proposal for the controlling stake in Yahoo! won’t go over with regulators. But the government nonetheless requires that Redmond go through the motions and sit before the House Judiciary Committee to explain its intentions prior to getting the notary’s approval. (Somehow I don’t think MSFT CEO Steve Ballmer likes the idea of Uncle Sam playing discerning daddy, but come what may, he’ll weather the scrutiny of Washington to ensure that he can unload those buckets of cash sitting idly in the bank.)
According to a report released by The Wall Street Journal and later relayed by MarketWatch, The HJC is scheduled to “convene a hearing on Feb. 8 to examine Microsoft Corp’s proposed takeover of Yahoo! Inc” where regulators will “consider what the impact on competition of a potential tie-up between the two Internet giants would be.”