Microsoft plan for Yahoo involves buying search -source

BOSTON, May 19 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) alternative proposal for Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) involves Microsoft buying Yahoo's search business and taking a minority passive stake in the company, once Yahoo has spun off its Asian assets, a person familiar with the discussions said on Monday.

The proposal is little more than an outline reflecting Microsoft's thinking, and does not yet include a value for Yahoo's search business, said the source, who was not authorized to speak on the record because the discussions are confidential. (Reporting by Anupreeta Das; editing by Carol Bishopric)