RUMORS HAVE AMD, OTHERS GOING PRIVATE

The EETimes is reporting that AMD and other silicon valley companies are rumored to be going private. Private equity rumors are also surrounding Lexmark and Micron. The Idaho Statesman carried rumors that Micron’s stock performance has it marked as a prime LBO candidate in PE circles. Blackstone Capital Partners is reportedly eyeing the tech firm, according to CNBC.

In other takeover whisperings around the valley, Oracle and Nokia were both rumored to be considering making bids for SAP and Research in Motion, respectively. According to SG Cowen Securities Inc, Tokyo Electron Ltd was also looking to buy out Lam Research Corp. The securities clearinghouse had rumors that “Lexmark, Micron and AMD were all on the verge of going private.” Both Micron and AMD are losing money in the competitive tech sector.

PE NEWS

Recently Goldman Sachs reported that it is taking its private equity fund public and Fidelity is in the news for branching out into the PE sphere with a modest $500 million fund for its owners. The fund will most likely serve as a foundation for larger funds in the future and will concentrate on deals in Europe and the united States.

Also in the news, KKR has removed itself from bidding on Australia’s Coles and China and Canada are reportedly the next hot spots for PE capital.