Samsung Electronics and BlackBerry have both denied a report that they met to discuss a proposed $7.5 billion buyout by the South Korean powerhouse.
“Media reports of the acquisition are groundless,” wrote a Samsung spokeswoman on Thursday.
“BlackBerry has not engaged in discussions with Samsung with respect to any possible offer to purchase BlackBerry,” the company in Waterloo, Ontario, said in a statement late Wednesday.
Though BlackBerry is far from the mobile player it once was, it still has respected security technology, patents, automotive and industrial software from its QNX division, and a loyal following among users in enterprises and some developing markets.
Samsung makes more smartphones than any other company in the world but recently has seen its sales and profits decline.