Lenovo’s much-anticipated deal for IBM’s low-end server business was announced Thursday. Lenovo will pay $2 billion in cash and the rest in stock for the IBM x86 server business. IBM will continue to develop and evolve its Windows and Linux software portfolio for the x86 platform, and the two will enter a reseller agreement for an array of IBM’s storage systems and software portfolio. Lenovo is expected to offer 7,500 IBM workers around the world employment.
Earlier talks report folded into the confirmed deal
This confirmed-deal page now includes the earlier report that Lenovo had acknowledged talks to buy IBM's low-end x86 server business. The preliminary talks coverage helps explain why the $2.3 billion announcement landed as the expected conclusion rather than a surprise transaction.
Folded source context: Wall Street Journal coverage of Lenovo confirming the talks before the final IBM x86 server deal was announced.
