Mosaid Technologies (MSD.TO) asked shareholders on Thursday to take no action on an unsolicited C$480 million ($490 million) offer from rival patent firm WiLan (WIN.TO)(WILN.O), the latest sign of swelling global interest in increasingly valuable patents. WiLan on Wednesday offered C$38 a share offer for Mosaid, taking its proposal directly to shareholders after Mosaid rebuffed it in earlier talks. It says a takeover would create a firm with global scope as companies seek to shore up their technology patent portfolios. "Mosaid's board of directors is considering and evaluating Wi-LAN's offer and will respond in due course," the company said in a brief statement in response the WiLan's offer. Technology giants like Google (GOOG.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Research In Motion (RIM.TO) have all been battling to win control of patents as they traverse a maze of litigation related to the use of each others' inventions.
Shares of MSD fell by 1.3% or $-0.14/share to $10.64. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $9.75 and as high as $11.80. On average, 67255 shares of MSD exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 9881.
Shares of WIN fell by 2.31% or $-0.28/share to $11.83. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $10.76 and as high as $14.40. On average, 6135990 shares of WIN exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 300612.
Shares of WILN fell by 7.89% or $-0.57/share to $6.65. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $4.95 and as high as $10.13. On average, 186128 shares of WILN exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 51565.
Shares of GOOG fell by 2.44% or $-13.03/share to $520.12. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $447.65 and as high as $642.96. On average, 3531890 shares of GOOG exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 366022.
Shares of AAPL fell by 2.78% or $-10.59/share to $369.85. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $235.56 and as high as $404.50. On average, 18123600 shares of AAPL exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2088973.
Shares of MSFT fell by 1.84% or $-0.465/share to $24.78. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $23.32 and as high as $29.46. On average, 64635400 shares of MSFT exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2870082.
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