BlackBerry in Talks With Cisco, Google, SAP: Reports

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), Google Inc. (GOOG) and SAP AG (SAP) are in talks with BlackBerry Ltd. (BBRY) about buying parts or all of the Canadian company, Reuters reported, citing unidentified sources close to the matter.

Potential acquirers also include Intel Corp., LG Electronics Inc. (066570) and Samsung Electronics Co. (005930), the news service said.

BlackBerry has asked for expressions of interest from potential buyers, Reuters said, offering an alternative to the agreement it reached to be bought by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (FFH) for $4.7 billion.

Reuters said Google, Intel, SAP and Cisco declined to comment.

A BlackBerry spokesman told the news service it’s “conducting a robust and thorough review of strategic alternatives.”

Samsung spokeswoman Chenny Kim declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg today.

“Our official position is that as a matter of policy, LG doesn’t comment on rumors and speculation,” said LG spokesman Ken Hong.

Source: Bloomberg