Uber joins Baidu as Nokia's maps unit draws bidders

Uber Technologies Inc is teaming up with Baidu Technologies Inc and Apax Partners to pursue Nokia Oyj's maps business, people with knowledge of the matter said, as a bidding war for the unit intensifies.

Another group, comprising China's Tencent Holdings Ltd, NavInfo Co and Swedish buyout firm EQT Partners AB, is also bidding for the unit, which may fetch as much as $4 billion, three of the people said, asking not to be identified because negotiations are private.

Microsoft Corp has offered to buy a minority stake, while three US private-equity firms - Hellman & Friedman, Silver Lake Management and Thoma Bravo - are also in the running, the people said.