The last time Yahoo shares traded before Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced an offer to buy Yahoo, they cost $19.18. Today, for the first time since that offer, Yahoo shares sank below $20 to a low of $19.59. Even with the credit markets a complete mess, if Yahoo shares drop much further, we could soon wake up to news that some private equity firm tech's thriving investment banking sector borrowed enough cash to take Yahoo off the market and clean house — with or without Jerry Yang's consent.

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