The article is “World Billionaires – 2008” – here’s the list:

This helps to explain why Apple has chosen to account for iPhone sales on a subscription basis, choosing to amortize the phones over a 24 month period.  In doing so, Apple can provide iPhone users with new features without having to charge them.

Apple is planning to further expand its worldwide retail presence by opening up stores in Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Mexico.

This is a significant move as Apple’s retail stores have been an integral part of Apple’s resurgence and in the company’s meteoric stock performance over the past 4 years.  Apple’s retail stores account for approximately 20% of its revenue, and not only that, but they also generate revenue that comes in at more than $4,025 per square foot, besting typical leaders such as Tiffany’s and Best Buy by as much as $3000 per square foot.

Apple currently operates over 200 retail stores in the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, and Japan.

Yahoo’s board has decided Microsoft’s $31-per-share offer “massively undervalues” the company, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. Yahoo is expected to formally reject Microsoft’s offer, the Journal reported.

“Massively undervalues” tells me that it is a negotiation tactic.  The reason I believe this is the case is because when the news of Steve Ballmer’s offer was spreading like wildfire, Yahoo’s stock was in the process of a massive decline over the prior year and down under $20.  A company of Yahoo’s standing and success, branding and prominence in the Silicon Valley and globally, has the right to argue that it is worth much more than $31 a share.  Usually, initial offers are either low-ball offers to test the waters, or made to get the negotiation process rolling and expect to pay a premium over that offer price.

It looks like from here on out, it’s a lawyer’s game and I expect Microsoft might bite or maybe make an offer between $35 and $38 dollars a share.  What Yahoo suggests may sound like pocket change in the grand scheme of things for Microsoft, but I am sure the Silicon Valley giant will consider its options and inevitably acquire Yahoo.  The only way this falls through is if a bidding war breaks out with another company that can afford Yahoo.  At that point all bets are off.  One thing is certain, Yahoo is sitting pretty in all of this and I’m pretty sure the board isn’t going to blow this one — stockholders and employees should prepare to celebrate.

In reverse order, here are a few videos that show without a doubt that Steve Ballmer and Yahoo are a perfect match.  I mean, could you argue that there is a bigger Yahoo in silicon valley than Steve Ballmer?  I didn’t think so!

#5 The iPhone… what a joke, that concept will never fly!

Click here to view the embedded video.

#4 Steve Ballmer gets pwn’d

Click here to view the embedded video.

#3  Remember when Redmond introduced its latest product to flop? Microsoft Deodorant

Click here to view the embedded video.

#2 In the 80s, did anyone predict Ballmer would be the CEO of a multinational corporation?

Click here to view the embedded video.

#1 Steve Ballmer, I’ve got four words for ya:  Prozac!

Click here to view the embedded video.

So is there any doubt now that Steve Ballmer’s era of MS is a match for Yahoo? I didn’t think so.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

Microsoft Corp. offered $44.6 billion to buy Yahoo Inc., in a bold attempt to dramatically expand its online business and compete more effectively with Google Inc. in services ranging from email to Internet advertising sales.

Adding to the drama, here’s the best part of it all — Microsoft decides to bully it’s rival:

The offer was made in a letter sent Thursday by Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to Yahoo’s board of directors. One person familiar with the matter said that Microsoft decided to “go hostile” with its bid within the last few weeks after Yahoo ignored its latest overtures.

The offer, $31 a share in cash and stock, is a 62% premium to Thursday’s closing price.

Aside from a larger market share on internet search, Yahoo may have a leg up with their YPN ad publisher program.  Additionally, Yahoo stock has been plummeting and with rumors of previous flirting between the silicon valley giants, it seems like now is a good time for Yahoo to consider such an offer.  Though, I don’t know if you can call it flirting if one party seems consistently interested and the other is generally turned off by the proposition.

Not surprising, but the Dow is reacting positively to the news.