Back in March, digital watermarker Digimarc said it was selling its ID business to L-1 Identity for $250 million, and that subsequently its watermarking business would be spun into a new corporation. In what may be good news for shareholders, the company says it has received an unsolicited offer for the identity business from French firm Safran, valuing it at $300 million. The company has not yet agreed to take the higher offer, but it believes the offer may represent a higher value and thus it’s compelled to consider it. Release.

Update: L-1 has issued its response to this new bid, evoking fears of a takeover of key security technologies by a foreign company...."We believe that our offer is superior and that the best interests of customers and Digimarc shareholders are best served with a U.S.-based company such as ours that has the strongest biometric and authentication technologies and services in the industry,” said Robert V. LaPenta, CEO of L-1 Identity Solutions.

• Digimarc Sells ID Systems Unit To L-1 Identity For $250 Million