- Responding to speculation, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) Chairman Leif Johansson says he's not taken part in any talks over a potential merger deal with Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO).
- The company has a "good relationship" with Cisco right now but "fairly limited," Johansson tells CNBC.
- "I think from that point of view, we are satisfied with what we see, and obviously as we develop as partners, we are going to assess how ... we can do more together."
- In the winter, the companies planned to deepen their partnership this year by targeting new clients in the enterprise and public space, with the same eventual goal of adding an extra $1B each in revenues by 2018.
- As for merging, though: "I can only tell you that I have never been involved in any such discussions ... therefore, a hypothetical issue to comment." Would he want to have those discussions? "No, no," he says, smiling.
- Premarket: ERIC +0.2%; CSCO +0.4%.