Coller Capital is not holding any talks with bidders to acquire any stake in BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB), says a report from Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the development. The private equity firm established by British financier Jeremy Coller is not interested in acquiring a 10% stake in the BlackBerry patent portfolio, and neither is it funding any bidder, according to sources.
Earlier reports claimed Coller as a potential bidder
Earlier yesterday, reports surfaced speculating that Coller was in talks with various parties to ensure a successful deal. The firm may give a share of royalties to the winning bidder along with upfront financing. The report stated that Coller is apparently interested in patents related to technologies like push notification and instant messaging. Coller traditionally invests in private equity in the secondary market, which means that the firm offers liquidity to other firms, who then make investments in companies.
Some analysts believe that patents associated with BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) could be valued at $1.6 billion, but the real value depends upon the number of patents that have been licensed already.
Shira Goldman, a spokeswoman of Coller in New York did not comment immediately on the report. BlackBerry spokeswoman Lisette Kwong declined to comment on the issue, reports Bloomberg.
BlackBerry and options available
In August, BlackBerry stated that it was looking for potential bidders. Since then, many buyers have offered a purchase bid, but the company holding out for something larger.
Prem Watsa’s led Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, which is also the largest investor in BlackBerry, entered into a tentative agreement with the Canadian phone maker to purchase it for $4.7 billion last month. However, Fairfax did not reveal its buyout partners or its financing options. Other interested bidders are Cerebrus Capital management LP, who is reviewing BlackBerry’s books, and Lenovo Group Ltd. (PINK:LNVGY) (HKG:0992), which is also keen to buy BlackBerry, according to sources.
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) co-founders Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, who stepped down from the management position, are also believed to be considering a bid. They have previously stated that they are working on a proposal with assistance from Goldman Sachs.
