0.35.
This is the price/revenue figure that Bloomberg reported Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is paying to buyout Nokia’s (NYSE:NOK) handset unit and license its patent portfolio.
Handset unit? Patent portfolio? Both of these items sound very familiar to those of us following the BlackBerry (TSX:BB, NASDAQ:BBRY) story.
Not only does Microsoft buying Nokia potentially take a buyer off the table as BlackBerry continues to shop itself. It also potentially draws a line in the sand as to what price a buyer might be willing to pay.
For those of you hanging on to BlackBerry shares hoping for it to pop if/when a buyer is found, this number is not a favourable one.
With total revenues over the past 12 months of $11.3 billion, and a current market capitalization of $5.7 billion, BlackBerry currently trades at a price/revenue multiple of 0.50. BlackBerry shares would have to be trading right around $7.50 to carry a multiple of 0.35. That’s about 30% lower than where they currently sit.
The Foolish Bottom Line
Though BlackBerry’s shares are seemingly up on the day because of this MSFT/NOK news, it’s not entirely clear why this is so. One less buyer and a valuation precedent that is lower than where the company currently trades doesn’t seem like positive news to this Fool.
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Fool contributor Iain Butler doesn’t own shares of any companies mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft.