IBM擬收購Sun微系統(tǒng)公司
IBM holds out the promise of a new dawn for Sun Microsystems
IBM is in advanced talks to acquire rival Sun Microsystems for roughly $6.5bn in cash, in a deal that could trigger wider consolidation across the technology industry as the recession shakes out weaker companies.
The acquisition would enable IBM, one of a handful of cash-rich companies to navigate the downturn so far largely unscathed, to cut costs sharply and bolster its computer hardware business in the slow-growing server market.
It would also loosen Microsoft's strong grip on parts of the server business and save Sun, a former Silicon Valley darling, from its struggle against shrunken demand and an over-reliance on hardware – the physical components of a computer system.
IBM and Sun were in talks yesterday over the possible acquisition – which would value Sun at about $10 per share, including the cash already on its balance sheet, according to people close to the matter. Sun would be IBM's biggest acquisition.
Analysts said any deal would face intense antitrust scrutiny. The two companies account for two-thirds of the $25.5bn global market for high-end servers. “People have been speculating about this one for years,” one dealmaker said. “IBM can take out an enormous amount of costs and there are also great synergies in terms of technology.”
IBM正就以約65億美元現(xiàn)金收購競爭對手Sun微系統(tǒng)公司(Sun Microsystems)進(jìn)行深入談判,隨著經(jīng)濟衰退淘汰較弱企業(yè),該交易有可能在整個科技行業(yè)引發(fā)更多整合。
IBM是少數(shù)幾家迄今幾乎安然度過經(jīng)濟低迷的現(xiàn)金充足的企業(yè)之一。該收購將使IBM得以大幅削減成本,并在增長緩慢的服務(wù)器市場提振自己的計算機硬件業(yè)務(wù)。
該交易還會松動微軟(Microsoft)對部分服務(wù)器業(yè)務(wù)的強勢控制,并使Sun這個昔日的硅谷寵兒免于苦苦應(yīng)對需求萎縮及對硬件(計算機系統(tǒng)的物理組件)的過度依賴。
IBM與Sun昨日就可能的收購進(jìn)行了商談。據(jù)知情人士表示,IBM的收購估價為每股約10美元,包括Sun資產(chǎn)負(fù)債表上的已有現(xiàn)金。該交易將會是IBM最大的一筆收購。
分析師表示,任何交易都會受到嚴(yán)密的反壟斷審查。這兩家公司占據(jù)全球255億美元高端服務(wù)器市場的三分之二。一名交易撮合者表示:“人們多年來一直在設(shè)想這一組合。IBM能夠降低大量成本,而就技術(shù)而言,這也會產(chǎn)生巨大的協(xié)同效應(yīng)?!?/font>
據(jù)消息人士透露,盡管IBM與Sun在進(jìn)行談判,但談判可能破裂,該交易可能不會發(fā)生。如果這次收購成功,將成為IBM歷史上規(guī)模最大的收購案,超過了去年以50億美元收購Cognos的收購金額。