By Mark Davison at NetApp Insight, Dublin – NetApp has continually been touted as a prime acquisition target in the storage arena, but at least one senior executive feels it’s not something that’s going to happen in the near future.
“I’ve been at NetApp for nine years,” says director of technology and strategy EMEA, Matt Watts, “and we’ve been an acquisition target for eight of those.
“In my opinion, while we continue to trade strongly and have a strong share price, I would say that the likelihood of us being acquired is slim because we are an expensive company to buy if someone wanted to.”
Watts adds, however, that he enjoys the continued speculation about the company.
“I like all the talk because it means we have got something of value,” he says. “But, personally, I don’t think we want to be acquired. We want to continue being independent and doing what we’ve always done.”