Yahoo to Buy Inktomi for $235 Million

Duo aims to make the "Inktomi-Yahoo search offering the standard bearer for searching on the Web," said Inktomi CEO.

Yahoo Inc. will acquire search technology specialist Inktomi Corp. for $235 million, officials of both companies said Monday. "[The deal] will help us achieve our goal of providing users with the most comprehensive, relevant and highest quality search solutions on the Web," said Terry Semel, Yahoo chairman and CEO, in a statement. "The addition of Inktomis search platform adds both control and flexibility [and enhances] our ability to create new and more innovative search offerings for consumers and businesses." The deals effects on Yahoos ongoing efforts to increase its paid services, or on rival and Inktomi customer Lycos Inc. and Lycos HotBot job listings site, were not immediately clear.
David Peterschmidt, Inktomi chairman and CEO, said in a prepapred statement that the goal now is to make the "Inktomi-Yahoo search offering the standard bearer for searching on the Web." To improve the user experience, Inktomi has been working on improving search relevancies, index expansion, and XML interface features. The deal also gives Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo new paid inclusion technology. The deal should complete early in 2003, officials said. Other popular Web sites that run on Foster City, Calif.-based Inktomis service include Amazon.com, eBay, Microsofts MSN, and WalMart.com, officials said.