Yahoo’s top executives on Friday sought to draw a line under the six months of upheaval triggered by Microsoft’s takeover bid, as the internet company faced renewed criticism at its annual shareholder meeting for failing to secure a deal with the software company.

Roy Bostock, chairman, fended off complaints that Yahoo had overplayed its hand by pushing for too high a price from Microsoft. “That’s simply a mischaracterisation, misunderstanding, misperception of what happened in those negotiations,” he said.