Harper's all-Canadian remark might hurt RIM sale
By: LuAnn LaSalle
02/7/2012
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
MONTREAL -- Research In Motion might not have many suitors at home or abroad, especially with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's comments that he would like to see the BlackBerry maker remain a Canadian company, analysts said Monday.
The prime minister recently told the Reuters news agency he wants to see the "company succeed and continue to grow as a Canadian company."
"A hostile takeover is not very likely to go through based on what Harper has said," telecom analyst Troy Crandall said.
But RIM doesn't seem to have a lot of obvious suitors.
"Any of the potential acquirers for RIM right now seem to either have partnered with somebody else already or bought somebody else," said Crandall, of investment firm MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier.
Harper's comments last week reflect a worry that too many Canadian companies are being swallowed by foreign buyers.
Jaguar Financial and more than a dozen other shareholders own about 10 per cent of RIM and have been pushing for a revamped board and a strategic review of the company, which would include a possible sale.
Jaguar chief executive Vic Alboini said he still believes RIM's new chairwoman, Barbara Stymiest, should do a strategic review of the company and consider a sale.
"I think if the federal government wants to put its toe in this water, it has to lay out what the guidelines are so there is no uncertainty in the capital market," said Alboini, head of the Toronto-based merchant bank.
"I am not sure we want a government poison pill here," Alboini said of the prime minister's comments.
"Is it something he would consider to be a problem if management of RIM entered into a friendly deal with a foreign acquirer?" he said.
"It raises a ton of uncertainty for potential acquirers, whether domestic or foreign, because people don't know where the government stands and, therefore, what you're going to do is take out the takeover bid premium out of the marketplace," Alboini said.
"Is that what the government really wants to do?"
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The "trained economist" strikes again!
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4 comments:
This is the same guy that killed the one certain way of keeping companies in Canadian hands , income trusts.
"Trained economist" eh , my sweet patoooootie.
Dr Mike Popovich
This is Harper Private Equity Corp speaking. Mr Harper is padding his way into his new retirement once he leaves politics & leaves Canada in shambles ala Mulrouney.
Problem is, will RIM be around by then
for a job application for him ??
MC
This is the same Stephen Harper who promised he would "never tax income trusts" and proceeded to do just that, not realizing that his actions would result in billions in foreign takeovers of income trusts (eg $5 billion takeover of Prime West Energy by middle eastern Abu Dhabi Energy) causing the permanent loss of $1.2 billion per annum in tax revenues. Stephen Harper hasn't got a clue about how the capital markets function. How could he possible claim to know, since he has spent his entire life as a political hack.
Political hack, yes and a CCCE trained seal.
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