COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Microsoft Denies Plan to Buy Turner Stake: Several published reports over the past week have said Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. was considering an investment of $1 billion to $2 billion in Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System Inc. to help Turner pursue a rival bid for CBS Inc. CBS has agreed to a $5.4-billion merger with Westinghouse Electric Corp. “There’s nothing to it,” Microsoft spokeswoman Erin Carney said when asked about the rumor. “There’s a lot of speculation with no basis in fact.” She said she did not know whether Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates had met recently with Turner Chairman Ted Turner. Industry sources say Turner’s board will have a special meeting Monday to discuss a possible rival bid for CBS.