Logitech shares surge on talk of Microsoft bid

Shares in Swiss-based computer peripherals maker Logitech International SA rose over 12 percent on Thursday amid speculation Microsoft Corp would launch a takeover bid, traders said.

A Logitech takeover would transform Microsoft, the world's largest software firm, into the world's largest maker of computer mice and other peripheral devices and deepen its push into hardware.

"Supposedly, Microsoft is supposed to be taking over Logitech, offering 48 francs a share. Then the mouse-maker would be worth around 10 billion francs," said one trader.

[mighty_douche]

they offer quality at reasonable prices, that will all come to an end if M$ get their greedy hands on them!

NOOOOO Logitech, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[BrianC6234]

Please somebody. Anybody. Don't let this deal go through. Logitech is too good of a company to have this happen. Who will compete with Microsoft's devices? Soon the peripheral market will have nothing worth buying and it will be a bunch of expensive and crappy mice and whatever. The market needs someone out there not named Microsoft.

[ravinash]

God NO!
I buy Logitech products so I can stay away from MS.
Plus Logitech make good mice.

This sucks!!!!

I hope this isn't an indication of Bills hopes of making mice and Keyboards a thing of the past.

[sypen]

Oh god please no, dont less MS ruin a rather good company.

[prodg52]

i have a logitech bluetooth ps3 keyboard with the square,x,o, and triangle buttons maped on it. After this deal we probably wont see ps3 periferals anymore:(

[BrianC6234]

That would be horrible too since Logitech makes great steering wheels. I hope this isn't allowed to happen. Maybe Google will see a good business to buy and swoop in and steal Logitech. I'd rather see them buy Logitech. And that sure would make Microsoft mad. We just can't have Microsoft owning the peripheral market.

Maybe Sony can buy Logitech.

[socomnick]

Didn't logitech make that awesome ps2 steering wheel for grand turismo.

[WilliamRLBaker]

lets see microsoft makes some great hardware like mice and keyboards nearly all of their products garner 7-10 scores.

they make pretty good ethernet bridges, and controllers I dont think i've ever heard of a problem with the controller infact I think their 360 controler is heraled as a marvel.

All this means is an successful and marvelous hardware devision and a successful and marvelous (yet expensive as hell) hardware devision at logitech will become one.

I can see nothing but good things comming from this.
Including making profits from ps3 periherals.

[BrianC6234]

You obviously don't understand the idea of competition. I won't say Microsoft makes crappy peripherals. But the fact is their only real competition in the peripherals business is Logitech. And they own the market. If Microsoft buys them they'll completely own the market. What does that mean? They can just put out garbage and charge double for it and we'll have no option but to buy it.

This is why Microsoft is constantly getting into trouble with governments too. Unfair practices. Maybe the EU will stop it. They seem to like to stop Microsoft anyway. Logitech is a European company so maybe they have some say over this.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

So many MS haters on this site. IF...and its a big IF right now...MS does buy out Logitech they will not stop doing what they do. Logitech would continue to be branded as Logitech. MS just wants them under the umbrella not to kill them off. Logitech is too strong of a brand and competitor for MS to just nix them.

MS wants to be able to sell peripherals to all markets ...this is a logical buy for them.

[Bladestar]

lol... look at the haters... these mojones obviously do not understand why companies buy other companies. You actually think that just because microsoft buys this company all of the sudden people writing software will start making keyboards... lol.. it's like bungie... microsoft owned them... but that didn't mean bill gates wrote halo... This will be great for the xbox 720... since it will have the best in the business designing and making the xbox peripherals... it's only logical for microsoft to do this...

And sadly for you sore losers you will see Microsoft aquiring other hardware manufacturers since they are moving from just a software company to a software and hardware company with other devices like Zune, Xbox, Surface, etc.... and as these devices grow they will need to develop stuff inhouse in order to reduce cost.

[socomnick]

lol mojones you Puerto Rican right :)

[kewlkat007]

Obviously a MS hater, will continue to hate on all aspects.

Of course when there is a take-over it doesn't mean all the sudden MS people take over all the jobs as if, they know how to run the original company.

Hey MS has money and if you look at how most big business compete, it's all about eating out the competition. Hey that's business, look at EA, they have been eating up everyone since the early 90's. Anyhow I don;t really care it's only keyboard and mouses and all that junk..
\
I have a HP keyboard and mouse...

[hardcorehippiez]

but look how they have turned out so point is proven logitech should oppose this by all means

[freakyzeeky]

Logitech is one of my favorite computer pheripheral companies... They make high quality products, unlike Microsoft who makes crappy products left and right.