Business Lessons from The Sale of Yahoo to Verizon

On June 13, 2017, Verizon announced its acquisition of Yahoo's core internet business for $4.48 billion. The deal, which was approved by both companies' boards of directors, marked the end of Yahoo as an independent company and marked a new chapter for Verizon as it expanded its portfolio of media and technology assets.

For business leaders, the sale of Yahoo to Verizon provides several important lessons about the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

First, the sale of Yahoo to Verizon highlights the importance of staying relevant in a rapidly-changing marketplace. Yahoo was once a dominant player in the internet industry, but in recent years, the company struggled to adapt to the rise of mobile devices and the increasing dominance of search engines like Google. As a result, Yahoo's revenues and profits declined, and the company was ultimately acquired by Verizon.

Business leaders can learn from Yahoo's experience and take steps to ensure that their companies remain relevant and competitive in the digital age. This may require investing in new technologies, adopting new business models, or making other strategic changes.

Second, the sale of Yahoo to Verizon demonstrates the need for companies to diversify their revenue streams. In the past, Yahoo relied heavily on advertising revenue, but as the digital advertising market became more competitive, the company struggled to maintain its market share. Verizon, on the other hand, has a diverse portfolio of businesses, including wireless and broadband services, digital media, and internet of things (IoT) products.

By diversifying its revenue streams, Verizon was able to weather the challenges faced by the digital advertising industry and emerge as a stronger company. Business leaders can learn from this example and consider ways to diversify their own revenue streams, such as by expanding into new markets or offering new products and services.


Third, the sale of Yahoo to Verizon shows the value of strategic acquisitions in building a successful business. For Verizon, the acquisition of Yahoo's core internet business provided a valuable source of new users, content, and technology. This allowed Verizon to expand its digital media offerings and strengthen its position in the highly-competitive internet industry.

Similarly, business leaders can use strategic acquisitions to acquire new customers, technologies, or capabilities that will help their companies grow and succeed. However, it is important to carefully evaluate potential acquisition targets and ensure that they align with the company's overall business strategy.

Finally, the sale of Yahoo to Verizon serves as a reminder of the importance of good corporate governance. Yahoo faced several challenges in recent years, including a major data breach and the resignation of CEO Marissa Mayer. These issues raised concerns about the company's management and oversight, and may have contributed to the decline in Yahoo's value.

Business leaders can learn from this example and prioritize good corporate governance in their own companies. This may involve implementing strong internal controls, promoting transparency, and regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the company's leadership.

In conclusion, the sale of Yahoo to Verizon provides several important lessons for business leaders. By staying relevant, diversifying revenue streams, making strategic acquisitions, and prioritizing good corporate governance, companies can position themselves for success in the digital age.

Comments

  1. Additionally, they had the opportunity of buying android @ it's initial developing state, yet they c no value in it. Today, Android is one of d biggest Os in d world.

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  2. Additionally, they had the opportunity of buying android @ it's initial developing state, yet they c no value in it. Today, Android is one of d biggest Os in d world.

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  3. " Perhaps the greatest challenge for every entrepreneur is to know when to try harder and when to give up. Timing is of great essence in Business. You may have a great idea, a great strategy and even a great business model, but you must carefully consider when to launch, when to buy and when to sell. I suppose Yang didn't quite get it at that point."

    So tell me, how can an Entrepreneur know?

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  4. I believe being smart and well researched will definitely help in knowing "when to try harder and when to give up"

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  6. Though I'm not yet an entrepreneur .... They lacked basic foresight in R&D plus their target market was restricted as well as service. My first mail was yahoo. And that was the problem. They only offered me mail.

    ReplyDelete

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