Hewlett Packard Enterprise drops 8% on WSJ report it is close to acquiring Juniper Networks for $13B
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) for approximately $13 billion, according to the WSJ.
The move is aimed at strategically positioning HPE in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). WSJ reports that an official announcement regarding the deal could be made as soon as this week.
HPE shares fell 7.7% in pre-market Tuesday while Juniper stock was up nearly 23%.
As of the latest closing, HPE's shares were valued at $17.72, translating to an approximate market capitalization of $23 billion. On the other hand, Juniper Networks, a former tech-bubble-era favorite, concluded Monday's trading at $30.22, with a market value of around $9.6 billion.
Analysts at Evercore ISI believe the deal makes sense from a financial basis.
“The strategic questions will range from – what happens to JNPR’s SP segment to how does HPE differentiate between Aruba & Mist to their customer base. Though, JNPR’s biggest challenge in scaling Mist has been goto-market that HPE could provide,” analysts said in a note.
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