RARE ALERT: Microsoft said to be in the early stages of examining multi-billion dollar takeover bid for BlackBerry

Wow - the RARE is coming in thick and fast today (see below).

I understand technology giant Microsoft has asked investment bankers to examine whether it should purchase BlackBerry, the device manufacturer.

Microsoft is said to have requested Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs to work on the BlackBerry project, according to my City sources.

To be clear, my source said Microsoft has not yet made an approach for Blackberry and is still in the very early stages of looking into buying the business. It's quite possible the technology group may decide against pursuing BlackBerry.

It's also not clear why Microsoft is interested in BlackBerry but one source suggested the company is keen to get hold of some of its patents.  

It's thought Microsoft could be willing to pay between $6 billion and $7 billion for BlackBerry.

Microsoft's interest in BlackBerry comes amid a flurry of speculation about other rival US-based technology groups making a move on the Nasdaq-listed Canadian business.

Earlier this week, reports suggested Apple was about to pounce on BlackBerry. Click on the link:

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2408397/apple-reportedly-plans-to-buy-blackberry-in-bid-to-tighten-its-grip-on-the-enterprise-market

And yesterday Canadian newspaper Financial Post/Motley Fool drew up a list of potential bidders for BlackBerry - although, ironically, the one bidder not included in the list was Microsoft. Here is a link the publication's excellent piece:

http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/which-companies-could-be-interested-in-acquiring-blackberry-ltd-a-look-at-its-most-likely-suitors?__lsa=a16e-1f2f

I have asked BlackBerry whether they have anything to say on the matter but so far I have not had a response back from the company.

I also asked Microsoft whether it had appointed Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs to look at purchasing BlackBerry and unsurprisingly this was the response from a Microsoft spokesperson: "Unfortunately we do not comment on rumour or speculation". 

Readers of this article should understand this information is RARE. For readers that don't understand what RARE is, here is the definition:

Market gossip that hasn't been tested through all formal journalistic channels (public relations executives, bankers etc). The rumour might be total codswallop but then again there may be something in it, so it's worth airing on Betaville.