A possible Microsoft acquisition of Adobe Systems, long a rival in the desktop software business, was among ideas for closer co-operation raised informally at a recent meeting between the chief executives of the two companies, according to a person familiar with the talks.
The suggestion, arising from a broader discussion about whether the two companies should ally against Apple, highlights Microsoft�s willingness to consider more radical tactics as it tries to counter Apple�s success with the iPhone and iPad.
One said that it had not led to any active takeover discussions, while the other added that no deal was �imminent�. Both characterised the discussion as part of a regular series of meetings to consider a range of possible areas of co-operation.
However, news of the meeting, first reported in The New York Times, sent Adobe�s shares up by more than 11 per cent in the final hour of trading on Wall Street on Thursday, lifting its stock market value to $15bn.
While it had cash on hand of nearly $37bn at the end of June and a stock market value of more than $200bn, Microsoft has avoided such large acquisitions in the past and failed to push through an unsolicited bid for Yahoo two years ago.
Adobe was long seen as a more likely acquisition target for Apple itself, before a recent rift between the companies. The two companies have fallen out over Apple�s decision not to let users of its touchscreen devices view websites using Adobe�s Flash technology. The rift with Apple had helped push Adobe�s shares to their lowest point in more than a year before the meeting was reported.
Microsoft and Adobe, meanwhile, have often found themselves at loggerheads. Microsoft has created a rival to Flash, called Silverlight, and Adobe�s promotion of the PDF document format to support sales of its Acrobat software has made it a direct rival to Microsoft�s Office.
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