Report: Uber Gets On Line To Bid On Nokia Corp. Map Unit

Uber Technologies Inc. joined a long list of companies on Monday that are rumored to be bidding on Nokia Corp.'s NOK maps unit valued at up to $4 billion. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-18/uber-joins-baidu-as-nokia-s-maps-unit-draws-multiple-bidders The ride-sharing startup is said to be partnering with China-based search engine provider Baidu Inc. BIDU in its bid, according to a report by Bloomberg. Baidu hooked up with Uber "to avoid regulatory scrutiny," according to the report, which cited anonymous sources. Baidu had been previously mulling a bid, perhaps as part of a consortium, according to reports last month. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-22/nokia-said-to-target-apple-alibaba-and-amazon-in-maps-unit-sale Monday's report also said Tencent Holdings Ltd. TCTZF has formed a group with NavInfo Co. of China and Swedish buyout firm EQT Partners AB to make a separate bid. A group of German automakers Audi AG, BMW AG and Daimler AG remain in the running, according to the report, which also said Microsoft Corp. MSFT has offered to acquire a minority stake while several U.S. private equity firms have expressed an interest. Nokia said last month it would review a possible sale of its HERE maps unit in the wake of its plan to acquire Alactel Lucent SA ALU for $16.6 billion. http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2015/04/15/nokia-has-initiated-a-review-of-strategic-options-for-its-here-business Nokia Chairman Risto Siilasmaa said earlier this month that the company might decide not to sell the business. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/nokia-ma-maps-idUSL5N0XW3O020150505 "We strongly believe in the possibilities to develop HERE also as part of Nokia" Siilasma said according to Reuters. "Above all, this is a question of finding the best possibilities for HERE to create value." Nokia acquired the business seven years ago for a reported $8.1 billion. Although previously rumored to be interested, Bloomberg's report on Monday made no mention of any potential bids from Apple Inc. AAPL, Facebook Inc. FB, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. BABA and Amazon.com Inc. AMZN.