Taking a company public used to be the most sought after
business goal. Now, taking a public company back to its private
status seems to be the latest trend. 3Com, a Salt Lake City, Utah
network communications equipment developer and manufacturer, is
reportedly the latest company being heavily courted by private equity
interests.
Recent reports in the The Wall Street Journal indicate that 3Com has
met with both Bain Capital and Silver Lake Partners to discuss a
potential buyout. (Silver Lake Partners just recently bought Avaya for
$8.2 billion and took it private.) Rumors also are circulating
that Nortel Networks is talking with 3Com about a buyout.
3Com set up a joint venture with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, a Chinese
telecommunications equipment maker known as H3C Technologies Co., Ltd.,
and has recently acquired all of the shares of this joint venture for
$882 million.
As we reported earlier this week, 3Com has been considering moving its
manufacturing to China and has acquired 2,400 R & D engineers
employed by H3C as part of the deal.
Private investors in hot pursuit
Published in
Latest
David Stellmack
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view itLatest from David Stellmack