Logitech up on Microsoft bid talk, analysts wary

By Thomas Atkins

ZURICH (Reuters) - Shares in Swiss-based computer peripherals maker Logitech International SA rose as much as 12 percent on Thursday based on speculation Microsoft Corp would launch a takeover bid, traders said.

Analysts dismissed rumors of an $8 billion takeover bid as unlikely and Logitech board member Daniel Borel, the company's largest shareholder, said he had no reason to sell his 6 percent stake. He declined to comment on the speculation.

Such a deal would be Microsoft's biggest ever and while the world's largest software maker has recently shown a willingness to do bigger deals, it has focused most of its acquisitions on higher-margin Web and business software.

"I am a co-founder of Logitech. Would you be willing to sell your child?" Borel told Reuters in an interview.

"I have no reason to sell. But I will not be the one to decide. I own only some 6 percent so I will neither enable nor prevent a sale of Logitech."

Traders said rumors circulated that Logitech, with a market capitalization of about 7 billion Swiss francs ($6.3 billion), would receive a takeover bid at 48 francs per share from Microsoft.

This would be a premium of 38 percent to Wednesday's 34.80-franc closing price and value it at 9.16 billion francs.

"Rumors are rumors. I can't make any specific comment on them," Borel said.