Carl Icahn stated on December 6, 2011 during a telephone interview on CNBC, in response to a question that he owns stakes in both Oshkosh Corp (OSK), and Navistar International Corporation (NAV). Carl Icahn said he would support a merger between the two companies, and it’s possible for shareholders who invest in both companies benefit from the significant synergies. He also mentioned that “synergy driven consolidation will be a primary method for defense contractors to drive earnings and cost savings in the years ahead.”

According to the SEC filings, Carl Icahn's Icahn Capital reported 8.67 million shares in OSK at the end of September, and 7.25 million shares in NAV on November 2nd.

Per Yahoo! Finance, Oshkosh Corporation “designs, manufactures, and markets a range of specialty vehicles, and vehicle bodies worldwide.” The company operates four segments: defense, access equipment, fire & emergency and commercial. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Navistar International Corporation engages in manufacturing and selling “commercial and military trucks, buses, diesel engines, recreational vehicles, and chassis”. It operates in Truck segment, Engine segment, Parts segment, and Financial Services segment. The company mainly markets its products through dealers and distributors in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and India.