Netscape Stock Tumbles After Company Cites Loss, Cutbacks nytimes.com
The good gray Times weighs in on the other topic of moment.
Analysts said the slashing of Netscape's share price could make the company a vulnerable takeover target. Its market valuation is down to $1.68 billion from a 52-week high of $5.37 billion. Rumored suitors have included IBM, Oracle Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc., each of which is already engaged in its own battle with Netscape's chief rival, Microsoft Corp., and might well see Navigator as a strong complement to its own technologies.
Buy? Sell? Beats me. I'm sure Bill's sending down emissaries with suitable offers to key employees, anyway.
Given the size and immaturity of the markets it is addressing, Netscape could return to robust growth, said Senk of Robertson Stephens.
"They are selling into several very strong markets, and if the company focuses, there is a lot of opportunity," Senk said. "Business implementation of internal network applications is not slowing down, and Microsoft and IBM are not going to own those markets."
Or, after Gene's Netscape funeral, they could sell antitrust suit rights to some legal vultures. The Caldera/DR suit is supposed to be coming to trial soon, right? More entertainment for me!
Cheers, Dan. |
