Motorola may sell set-top TV arm

MOTOROLA Inc is in the early stages of looking into a potential sale of its US$4.5 billion television set-top box and network equipment business, two sources said on Wednesday.

Motorola is in the early stages of seeking buyers for the unit, whose suitors include private equity firms and other communications equipment makers, said one source.

Motorola may decide to keep the unit in the end, said the unnamed source. JPMorgan Chase & Co and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are advising on the possible sale.

JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs declined to comment.

Motorola, which has been losing market share in its cellphone business for years, declined to comment, but said it was still focused on its previously stated plan to separate its handset business from the rest of the company.

Analysts said there could be a lot of interest in the home and networks unit.

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