Per latest market buzz, Microsoft MSFT is the frontrunner in acquiring the Canadian handset manufacturer, BlackBerry Limited BBRY.
Also, a few days back, rumors about Apple AAPL planning to acquire Blackberry were making the rounds. Reportedly, other Chinese companies, namely Xiaomi, Huawei and Lenovo, also seem interested in the deal. Though none of the rumors have been confirmed, Microsoft remains ahead in the race. The Redmond-based software giant has even requested investment firms to evaluate the benefits of such an acquisition.
Microsoft’s Gain from Blackberry
BlackBerry, a pioneer in business mobile solutions, lists enterprises and government agencies as its customers due to the high level of security it offers. Therefore, Blackberry’s enterprise security software could attract more business customers for Microsoft, thus expanding the company’s footprint in the mobile enterprise segment.
Also, Blackberry has a very powerful patent portfolio of data security and basic wireless technologies. The company’s prime intellectual properties, such as predictive typing on keyboard or setting up meeting schedules, are highly recognized intangible assets for a mobile handset developer. Through the acquisition, the tech giant will gain access to BlackBerry's patent trove.
BlackBerry is actively targeting the developing economies of China and India. The company expects its enterprise service business to witness strong growth in these countries driven by the high demand for efficient communication system security in the corporate sector. Thus, the acquisition is likely to help Microsoft strengthen its position in these regions.
Our Take
From the past records, we do not expect Microsoft to offer much of a premium to buy Blackberry. The firm’s recent attempt to buy salesforce.com CRM fell through as it could not agree on the offer price set by the Salesforce board.
On the other hand, though Apple has a boatload of cash, it has never shown interest in acquiring patents or making big acquisitions.
Therefore, despite rumors, it is difficult to predict which of the companies will end up buying Blackberry. However, there is always the possibility of a merger in the near future as it could facilitate share gains in what is increasingly becoming a highly competitive market.
Currently, Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while Apple carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Be the first to comment