Secret Microsoft-Yahoo Deal in The Works?

Microsoft Very Quite On Icahn-Yahoo Flap

There’s a Microsoft/Yahoo deal afoot. There is a deal brewing in Seattle and the valley I can just feel it. Microsoft is being too quite while Icahn is ranting and raving. Now I realize I am not breaking news since the “talks are on-going” speech went out earlier this week. What I am figuring is Bill Gates wants to going go out with this deal under his belt, leave it to Ballmer to integrate, then come back to fix the inevitable mess that will surely ensue once you try to crash two different cultures together.

But then another thought occurred to me. While watching Hillary try and weasel a VP nomination out of Obama, maybe Icahn is trying to do the same thing by forcing Microsoft to consummate this deal.

How?

Icahn’s letter to Yahoo included;

“One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize there is a simple method” for luring another offer from Microsoft. Simply rescind the … ’severance plan,’ which would free up approximately $2.4 billion and possibly even more, which could be added to the bid.”

Genius move! Either Icahn knows Microsoft is ready to pounce or he is daring them NOT to do the deal if and when the poison pill is revoked. Either way Icahn is going to unlock the value he has tied up in the stock and Microsoft is going to get the company….sans Jerry Yang.