Yahoo! Acquires Yoyodyne in $30M Stock Deal

Santa Clara, CA-based Yahoo Inc. said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Yoyodyne Entertainment Inc. in a deal that Bloomberg News valued at $29.6 million in stock.

Under the agreement, Yahoo will issue 280,664 shares of common stock in exchange for all outstanding Yoyodyne shares, options and warrants. The transaction will be accounted for as a pooling of interests.

Yahoo said it expects to record a one-time charge of about $2 million in the fourth quarter in connection with the deal.

In a statement, Yahoo said the charge is for expenses in connection with the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

Yahoo will integrate Yoyodyne’s direct marketing services, including online shopping sites and promotions geared to small businesses, as a component of its extensive suite of advertising and merchant services, Reuters said.

Yahoo closed at almost $115 yesterday, up more than $8 as tech stocks rallied.

The purchase gives Yahoo an interactive marketing agency whose clients have included America Online Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Yahoo, which generates revenue mainly through selling advertising space on its Web site, wants to increase its sales with Yoyodyne’s direct marketing services.

“This acquisition further enhances Yahoo’s leading position of providing marketers with the world’s best interactive platform for reaching highly targeted audiences,” Chief Executive Officer Tim Koogle said in a statement.

“Yoyodyne provides several key elements Yahoo seeks in extending its business, including the most talented team in the industry; a proven business model, client and user base; and a solid track record,” Koogle said.

Launched in 1995, Irvington, NY-based Yoyodyne, in addition to custom direct marketing programs, offers four recognized, branded programs, including EZSpree.com, an aggregator of name brand online shopping sites; GetRichClick.com, a traffic distribution site transforming traffic into targeted, unduplicated visitors to sponsoring sites; EZVenture.com, a promotion targeted at entrepreneurs and small businesses; and EZWheels.com, a site delivering qualified, motivated car buyers directly to car manufacturers.

Yoyodyne clients have included America Online, American Express, H&R Block, Microsoft, Netscape, Procter & Gamble, Sony Music, Sprint and Volvo.