RIM: without a sign from their direction, a takeover is unlikely

Despite rumours that certain groups are running the figures over RIM which has seen their stock price increase slightly, analysts remain sceptical about any offer being made in the short term, while the company is giving no sign that they are open to a takeover.

In the middle of the week, rumours started circulating about certain large groups showing interest in possibly acquiring Canadian smartphone manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM), leading to their stock price picking up slightly after losing 80% of their value over the year.

At less than 14 dollars a share, and with a value of less than 8 billion dollars, RIM may be the acquisition target of companies looking to reinforce their mobile developments by getting their hands on a smartphone manufacturer who also has their own mobile and services platform.

This theory regularly surfaces, but nothing has ever come of it over the year, with the company’s stock price continually losing value. Analysts remain sceptical about the company being taken over in the short term though.


An un-favourable climate for an acquisition
they start with the fact that the company’s direction continues to believe that they can correct this situation themselves, giving no signal that they are looking for exterior assistance. This hasn’t stopped some shareholders from requesting a change at the head of the company, despite it being stated in July that this may be looked at in the future.

The uncertainty about the availability of the BlackBerry 10 platform already pushed out until the second half of 2012 for release, won’t make it easy for the new system to be picked up by users.