So again Yahoo! seems to have taken yet another defensive step to stop Microsoft's bid attempt dead in its track. Yahoo! Inc, and Time Warner Inc's AOL are almost at the end of closing a deal to combine their Internet operations. These constant make and break alliances bring back memories of the second world war. This is the most exciting chess match that I've ever seen. So keeping in tune with the topic, Microsoft has approached Rupert Murdoch as an ally and is hoping to have a joint bid for Yahoo!

The Yahoo! & AOL deal will include repurchase of some Yahoo! shares at a price which would be above than Microsoft's offer. This move coupled with the possible search advertising pact with Google could give Yahoo! the leverage to negotiate a higher price from Microsoft. This deal would value at $10 Billion excluding AOL's dial-up access business. This would enable Yahoo! to buy back its own shares which are valued in the vicinity of several billion dollars. These stock options would then be bought back by Yahoo! between the range of $30 to $40 per share.

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