Yahoo Japan: Asia unit sale would be mistake-paper

TOKYO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Yahoo Japan Corp's (4689.T) president said it would not make sense for Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) to part with its Japanese and Chinese businesses in light of Microsoft's (MSFT.O) unsolicited bid for Yahoo Inc, the Asahi newspaper reported on Thursday.

"It would not make sense (to sell the Japan unit) as the Japanese and Chinese operations have been successful for the group," Chief Executive Masahiro Inoue was quoted by the Asahi as saying in an interview.

"The Asia business is a strategically important asset because of its growth potential ... The buyer (Microsoft) no doubt wants to pursue a global strategy, and selling it would be unlikely to result in a higher bid price."

Microsoft announced the half-stock, half-cash offer on Feb. 1.

Yahoo on Monday turned down Microsoft's bid, now valued at $41.7 billion, saying it did not properly assess the value of Yahoo's vast audience, online advertising investments, cash generation and growth prospects of its overseas holdings. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)