BlackBerry should be sold for $ 4.7 billion

SAO PAULO-the maker of BlackBerry phones, which has been struggling in recent years to recover the lost space for iPhone and Android, will be sold and must close the capital. The company announced on Monday, 23, have signed a letter of intent to sell the company for $ 4.7 billion (or $ 9 per share) to a consortium led by Fairfax Financial-today owns 10% of the Canadian company. The numbers of the manufacturer will be analyzed by the buyer within the next six weeks.
During this period, the company can also evaluate other offers. But, if you give up the offer from Fairfax, you will have to pay a fine of $ 0.30 per share or $ 157 million.
After releasing the news to the market, yesterday afternoon, the company's shares had a sharply higher to 5.38%, price of US $ 9.20. But the trading session closed with the papers $ 8,82. The vision of the market is that, even if the operation completes, the BlackBerry's future remains uncertain. The company was the pioneer of the Smartphone market and gained fame, especially in the corporate segment, because of concern about the security of your system. But, faced with a market as dynamic and the arrival of more agile competitors, the company lost space and accumulated financial problems.
In the second quarter of this year, the BlackBerry lost third place to Microsoft, according to Gartner Consulting. Its share fell from 5.2% to 2.7%. Last week, to reveal the estimated revenues of $ 1.6 billion for the second quarter of the fiscal year (well below the $ 3 billion provided for previously), the company announced the resignation of 4.5 million people, 40 per cent of its headcount. Thorsten Heins, President of the BlackBerry, said on the occasion that the company was implementing operational changes? hard, but necessary to position itself in a more mature and competitive industry? and walk toward the profit.
This year, the company introduced two handsets in the first half: the Z10, touch screen, and Q10, with physical keyboard. The latter was seen by the market as the model that could bring good results to the manufacturer, because the presence of the keyboard near the models that have the brand on the market. But retailers have already reported to the American press that the demand by the unit was near zero. Still, the company followed its schedule. Last Wednesday, launched the Z30, to compete with the iPhone, Apple, 5S and with the Galaxy S4, from Samsung.
Brazil
In the country, the BlackBerry, as well as in the rest of the world, also lost relevance. In 2010, with a slice of 20.9 percent, according to Gartner, the manufacturer only to Nokia, owner of 47.3% of the Brazilian market. From then on, the scenario changed completely. BlackBerry's participation fell to 18.8% in 2011, 7% in 2012 and 2013 3.2%. In the corporate segment, the unit continues with credibility, says market analyst Fernando Belfort, Frost & Sullivan. ?But the choice of the companies also have to take into consideration the devices that executives want to use?. Considering all the cellular market, the slice of BlackBerry is 1.2%. The information is from the newspaper O Estado de s. Paulo.