By Brian Womack, Serena Saitto and Dina Bass
Microsoft Corp., the largest software company, has signed an agreement that lets it take a closer look at Yahoo! Inc.’s financial information to help it consider financing a bid, a person briefed on the matter said.
Yahoo’s advisers asked that bids be submitted next week, said two other people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Bidders are likely to offer to buy only a minority stake in Yahoo, as they haven’t arranged financing for a full takeover, the people said. Microsoft may help finance a bid and not try to buy Yahoo outright, two people said.