22 June 2004
Will Microsoft Buy Network Associates?
Posted by Zane under: News .
Prudential Equity Group noted a trade press report about a potential sale of Network Associates that suggested that Microsoft could be a possible buyer. The research firm said it believes that a purchase of Network Associates by Microsoft would increase consumer competition but decrease enterprise competition. “Network Associates’ share losses but strong product offering make it an obvious target in our view,” Prudential said. However, the research firm added that such a deal could exacerbate the recent volatility of the stock’s fellow network security software provider Symantec and weigh on sentiment. At the same time, Prudential said it considers Symantec to be “well positioned” in both its consumer and enterprise divisions and reiterated an “overweight” rating for that stock.
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