Microsoft to acquired $20bn Yahoo search business?

In what is a particularly complex transaction, it's being rumoured that Microsoft are set to acquire Yahoo!'s search business for USD$20bn, putting in place a new management team at Yahoo! in the process - which is needed with news that Jerry Yang is stepping down as Yahoo!'s chief executive.

Earlier this year Yahoo! rejected two offers from Microsoft for their whole business, something that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently said would not be on the table again.

The Sunday Times believes that executives at both companies are in broad agreement on the terms of the deal - but this is no guarantee that it will go through.