Broadcom Explores Deal to Buy Chipmaker Qualcomm!

[JeffreyHF]

Lets see: Apple + Avago have what appears to be a good working relationship. Apple over the past 9-12 months have done their best to bring QCOM to their knees, suing them and questioning the legitimacy of their business model. Along come AVGO with a take-under offer of $70. In the background, Apple are waiting in the wings to lead a consortium (AAPL/GOOGL/Sammy/Huawei... ) to acquire QTL, which makes Apple's royalty problem go away. In return AVGO get the #1 slot in the iPhone, and Apple no longer require Intel's inferior modem product. Its a classic sting... Hollywood style! INTC perhaps have the most to lose if Apple's royalty problem goes away, i.e. they lose their only modem customer, while QCT's gross margin in the mid 40's could be 60%+ manufactured in Intel's fab's. I would find it strange if Intel were not drawn into this situation and contemplate the cost of someone else acquiring QCOM - could still spin QTL, and put themselves in pole position in wireless, with lots of margin accretion by internalizing production.

Add in the intrigue surrounding Qualcomm's recent lawsuit against Apple over misappropriation and misuse of QCT source code and sharing with Intel, and the plot thickens. If Apple's hand has been indeed caught in the source code cookie jar, and Apple/Intel are enjoined from using Intel chips containing QCT source code, it will be checkmate, necessitating a quick settlement of all global litigation and royalty issues. Otherwise, QCT will refuse to sell them new silicon next year, and Apple's luxury products will be forced to go to MediaTek, jeopardizing their entire franchise.

 

[JeffreyHF]

All of this is happening while Stve Mollenkopf is on an extended Asia trip, with Trump and other CEOs. It will certainly make for some interesting interactions with governmental officials, customers, suppliers, and competitors.

Neither the cultures nor the financials, make any sense for Qualcomm, and they will rebuff this obvious effort to steal all they have accomplished, on the cheap. They will complete the NXP acquisition, and with the diversification provided, litigate with Apple on multiple fronts, until both sides find a compelling need to forge a comprehensive settlement.

 

[count]

Broadcom just took their bid for QCOM hostile. $70 won't cut it in a hostile bid. Price needs to come up to $80 and break fees need to be added.

 

[JeffreyHF]

Broadcom just took their bid for QCOM hostile. $70 won't cut it in a hostile bid. Price needs to come up to $80 and break fees need to be added.

$80, with $20 in funny Monopoly stock won't ever cut it. That number was invented by Tan's shills, and fed to he media. QCOM has 78% institutional ownership. They will never sell this company for a sugar high. Tan is like an abusive stalker, and Cook is an abusive customer. Both are unhealthy relationships, doomed to failure.