NYP: Time Warner Mulls AOL Sale To Microsoft

New York Post: Time Warner mulls AOL sale to Microsoft

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/New_Yo...cros_0915.html

RAW STORY
9/15/2005

In a deal that would unite two of America's corporate giants as partners in the Internet business, Time Warner is in advanced discussions to sell a stake in America Online to Microsoft, The New York Post reports in (paid-restricted) Thursday editions. Excerpts:

According to two sources familiar with the matter, Time Warner is in talks with Microsoft about selling the stake in AOL and then combining it with Microsoft's Web unit MSN.

Under the plan being considered, Microsoft would pay some money to Time Warner for the AOL stake, leaving the two companies approximately equal partners in the venture.

While the deal could fall apart, the companies are hopeful they can wrap it up within the next couple of months.

Talks are most advanced with Microsoft — Time Warner management's preferred partner — but the media giant has also had discussions with both Yahoo! and Google over a sale or venture with AOL, according to a source close to Time Warner.

Time Warner's inclination to partner with a large tech company suggests that even if AOL's most recent strategy of becoming a free portal is successful, it may not be enough to keep the unit within the Time Warner fold.