Microsoft boosts its Yahoo offer by "several dollars" per share

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Microsoft Corp. has finally dangled a higher takeover bid in front of Yahoo Inc., hoping to reach a friendly deal after weeks of saber rattling.

A person familiar with the matter says the Redmond, Washington-based software maker upped its offer beyond the original value of $44.6 billion (euro28.85 billion), or $31 (euro20) per share on Friday. The specifics of the new offer weren't known by this person, who didn't want to be identified because the negotiations are still confidential.

The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, has reported Microsoft boosted the offer by ``by several dollars'' per share, lending weight to the assertion by many market analysts that Microsoft can afford to pay up to $35 (euro22.65) a share.