Rumors have started up once again concerning a possible acquisition of BlackBerry. This time, prospective suitors include Microsoft, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Lenovo. Back in January, it was Samsung that was said to have the hots for the struggling manufacturer and a price of $7.5 billion was even bandied about. But BlackBerry denied that it had been approached, and an offer from Samsung never materialized.
According to a report by DigiTimes the recent success of BlackBerry, which has seen it return to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2014, has got some big names interested in acquiring it.
Some of the companies quoted by industry sources include Xiaomi Technology, Lenovo and Huawei. Outside of China, Microsoft is also reportedly interested, apparently commissioning investment companies to evaluate the possibility of taking over BlackBerry.
Today, there is speculation that Microsoft is about to make a $7 billion offer for BlackBerry. That would amount to a 26% premium for the stock, or a price of $13.23. BlackBerry's shares closed Friday at $10.48.
Back in 2013, BlackBerry's largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial, agreed to take the company private in a $4.7 billion deal. But the deal fell through which lead to the removal of Thorsten Heins as CEO. Heins was replaced by John Chen.
Although Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia hasn't exactly paid dividends for the Redmond company, it is apparently interested in BlackBerry to help strengthen its mobile technology division, as well as get hold of some possibly lucrative patents.
As for the Chinese-based manufacturers, they might have trouble getting through regulatory agencies in the US and Europe.
Nothing concrete has been confirmed, so take this news with a hefty dose of salt. We've contacted both Microsoft and BlackBerry for comment.
According to a report by DigiTimes the recent success of BlackBerry, which has seen it return to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2014, has got some big names interested in acquiring it.
Some of the companies quoted by industry sources include Xiaomi Technology, Lenovo and Huawei. Outside of China, Microsoft is also reportedly interested, apparently commissioning investment companies to evaluate the possibility of taking over BlackBerry.
Today, there is speculation that Microsoft is about to make a $7 billion offer for BlackBerry. That would amount to a 26% premium for the stock, or a price of $13.23. BlackBerry's shares closed Friday at $10.48.
Back in 2013, BlackBerry's largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial, agreed to take the company private in a $4.7 billion deal. But the deal fell through which lead to the removal of Thorsten Heins as CEO. Heins was replaced by John Chen.
Although Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia hasn't exactly paid dividends for the Redmond company, it is apparently interested in BlackBerry to help strengthen its mobile technology division, as well as get hold of some possibly lucrative patents.
As for the Chinese-based manufacturers, they might have trouble getting through regulatory agencies in the US and Europe.
Nothing concrete has been confirmed, so take this news with a hefty dose of salt. We've contacted both Microsoft and BlackBerry for comment.
source: MobileBurn
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