Zebra to spend $3.45B on Motorola business

Zebra Technologies is spending more than $3 billion to buy the enterprise business of Motorola Solutions in a considerable expansion that is both technological and geographical.

The acquisition would broaden the bar-code company's logistics capabilities and create or expand its footprint in more than 100 countries. Shares of the Lincolnshire, Ill., company spiked almost 8 percent in premarket trading.

Motorola's enterprise business makes bar code scanners and mobile and tablet computers, among other products. Zebra Technologies Inc. also makes plastic cards and, radio-frequency identification tags.

Motorola Solutions Inc., which is based about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away from Zebra in Schaumburg, will continue to make voice and data communication products for government and public safety customers.

Shares of Zebra rose $5.21 to $ 73.49 before the opening bell.

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