IBM's acquisition of Sun: Down to the details?

Rumors are flying at the moment that IBM and Sun are down to nickels and dimes in negotiations for the former to acquire the latter. And it really is pocket change -- the difference between $10-$11 per share and $9-$10 per share -- until you remember that it's still an eight-figure transaction.

Reports in the Wall Street Jornal, on which neither company is commenting at this time, indicate that the price-per-share reduction would come in exchange for assurances that IBM will endeavor to persevere even if the purchase gets a lot of unfriendly attention from regulators.