Pandora stock is soaring following a report that SiriusXM is in talks to buy it

Advertisement

Tim Westergren

Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Columbia Records

Pandora CEO Tim Westergren

Pandora stock is soaring on a New York Post report that satellite-radio powerhouse Sirius XM is in "active discussions" to buy the internet-radio pioneer.

Advertisement

The stock is up ~7.5% in trading this morning.

Pandora has endured on-an-off M&A rumors for months, as it tries to re-invent its business with the launch of an on-demand competitor to Spotify and Apple Music. That product finished its rollout last month.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

Liberty Media, which controls satellite-radio powerhouse Sirius XM, has been seen as the only real buyer in town.

That means Pandora has had to endure stock swings whenever Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei talks publicly about the company - which is often.

Advertisement

Most recently, earlier this month, Maffei talked unenthusiastically about Pandora's KKR investment. In its quarterly earnings report, Pandora announced it had taken $150 million from private-equity firm KKR, and given KKR a seat in a boardroom shakeup. "My guess is they needed cash," Maffei said. "I'm not sure it creates an opportunity. It speaks to the cash needs of their business."

Maffei reportedly made an informal offer for Pandora at roughly $15 a share early last year. But in March, Maffei said that Pandora was "overvalued," and that $10 per share was something that could work. On Thursday morning, the stock was trading at around $9.60 per share.

Visit Markets Insider for constantly updated market quotes for individual stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and currencies traded around the world. Go Now!

NOW WATCH: Malaysia just seized more than 300 endangered tortoises being smuggled in suitcases