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Is IDCC susceptible at these prices to a take out bid in the $45-50 range? Seems like a no brainer for private equity to come in with an LBO offer in this range and then bring it public in 3-5 years, supposedly when the company has its' act together, and earning $800 million in revenues. This kind of bid may spur other offers as well, bumping up the price. My take on why the SA failed to produce an offer for the entire company, has more to do with timing than the actual value of the portfolio. The industry had just over-paid for the Nortel patents in an auction that had more to do with who wanted to keep these patents out of Google's hands, than it did as to the intrinsic value of the patents. Google then answered with an over-bid for Motorola Mobility, and now we have an environment that has gotten out of control. Add in the fact that these two transactions were being investigated by the DOJ and the CAFC had not rendered its' decision on the ITC appeal, and we have a more cautious environment that has seemingly switched to purchasing patents, not entire companies. I still believe that this company will be bought out, but for less than we all had hoped for. Selling buckets of patents to multiple buyers may be the method that brings a large price for the 3g-4g prize. Nortel was sold in pieces, so possibly some company has expressed interest, only after other parts of the portfolio have been sold. My thanks to My3Sons87 for keeping us appraised on the current ITC action and was particularly interested in the news that a Nok settlement was even being mentioned.
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