• Bloomberg News, Thursday, February 26, 2009 12:30 PM

Yahoo isn't opposed to a search deal with Microsoft, CFO Blake Jorgensen said at an investor conference, but any agreement would have to maximize the unit's value. Jorgensen added that it would be extremely difficult to separate Yahoo's search business from the rest of the company, but not impossible. Any deal would also have to give Yahoo full access to the search engine data, which the company uses to make its display advertising more effective. "We want to do it for the right reasons and the right economics," Jorgensen said.

On Tuesday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reiterated the software giant's wish to complete a deal, saying the partnership would help both companies better compete against Google, Inc.

At the investor conference, Jorgensen also shared his first impressions of new Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz. "She's very decisive," he said. "She can operate with a gut instinct. She's very interested in simplifying the company and focusing Yahoo on some of its core strengths." He added that she also didn't put up with any carelessness. "She is intolerant of anyone that is late to a meeting, and that is very different than the Yahoo way. That will change the behavior of the company over time," he said.

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