₦airaland Forum

Tech pioneer BlackBerry has made a last roll of the dice and agreed to a probable $4.7 billion buyout by a consortium planning to take the struggling smartphone maker private.

BlackBerry was once a leader in mobile tech but has been squeezed by rivals Android and Apple, which coincidentally announced record sales of its latest iPhone on Monday.

The Ontario-based company said it had signed a letter of intent with a group led by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, which has offered to acquire the company.
Fairfax, a Canadian firm headed by billionaire Prem Watsa, is already BlackBerry's largest shareholder with approximately 10 percent of its shares.

Watsa resigned from BlackBerry's board in August when it announced a search for a suitor.

Watsa said the sale "will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry, its customers, carriers and employees."

"We can deliver immediate value to shareholders while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company."

Ironically, the announcement came on the same day that Apple said it sold a record nine million iPhones in three days after launching two new versions of its smartphone last week.

Under the proposed BlackBerry-Fairfax deal the consortium would offer $9 for each outstanding share, and Fairfax would contribute its own shares in the transaction.

BlackBerry said its board supports the plan.

A firm deal, once due diligence is completed, is expected by November 4. It also hinges on the consortium obtaining financing.

BlackBerry said it would continue a search for a possibly better suitor in the interim.

BlackBerry stock was down six percent to $8.23 before trading was halted just prior to its announcement.

Its shares bounced back in afternoon trading to close at $9.08 but remain far below the stock's historical high.
On Friday, the company announced it was laying off 4,500 staff -- or one-third of its global workforce -- after a dismal launch of new smartphone models earlier this year.

It prediected a nearly $1 billion second quarter loss due to poor sales of its new Z10 touchscreen smartphone, which was aimed at competing with Apple and Android's flagships.

Gold and other analysts said going private -- and possibly returning company founder Mike Lazaridis at the helm -- would give the firm room to "put the house in order."

Going forward, BlackBerry would be a much smaller player in handheld devices, but Gold said "being private would mean Wall Street is not continuously breathing down their neck."

Furthermore, its key enterprise customers may not feel compelled to replace their BlackBerry servers for fear that the company is going out of business.

"It could provide them with cover to re-architect the company even more than they are now," said Gold.

Boston University professor N. Venkat Venkatraman said the company could attract firms like IBM, HP or Dell if it focused on business communications not private comsumers.

Guys am flexing this openvpn connect. Thanks to nickyjeff and the paid servers..

I have exceeded my mtn bis fair usage of 3GB. Bt am still rocking it.... guys this guy is for real. Tested and trusted.

@mecussey. Please do you know how I can split a single view decoder of CTL to different rooms and I can watch different channels at the same time? Please help me

We have a single view decoder of CTL at home. PLEASE can anyone help me out on how I can split it so that we can be able to watch and change different channels on Both TVs(one on the sitting room and the bedroom)....I reside in Port Harcourt.

Thanks

I'm limited to 100mb daily with droid vpn free account

I'm limited to 100mb daily with droid vpn

Please I need the step for mtn bis to unlimited. And also Mtn Magic sim activation steps..... I would be graTeful to get your reply. Thank
My email:gentleoshoke4u@gmail.com

enquirydon if u know wan answer my just let me know, i don ask you how much u dey sell hp m6, for a week now u know wan answer me. Anyway tnx. Do have a lovely weekend.

so how much is it and what spec of HP m6 do you have, reply please cos its urgent

please i just want to know how good is the new PH m6 and if it is now avaliable in naija

so whats the specification and the price?? Reply

do you have dell vostro 3550.... Reply

you havent given me a reply regardin my request. Check above post to see my question

please whats the present price for
Dell Vostro 3550 or 3450
Intel Core i5 n i3
(does the above hve backlit keyboard?)

and

Dell XSP 15
intel core i5 n i3

please whats the present price for Dell Vostro 3750
Intel Core i5 n i3
and

Dell XSP 15
intel core i5 n i3

please whats the present price for Dell Vostro 3750
Intel Core i5 n i3
and

Dell XSP 15
intel core i5 n i3

hw much ?

Please am looking for nokia E52 to buy. If anyone out there have or knows someone that want to sell,please you can reach me at 08034813013 or by mail  gentleoshoke4u@gmail.com.

Thanks alot

Am finally through with the clearance. Thanks be 2 God

Am at Hall1 common room watching Nig vs Seg. While waiting 4 Alex to come

Guyz they have stated the bank and account name to pay the 10k development leve.

i have being in Benin since thursday nite. Hopin 2 meet those in d hostel either 2day or 2morrow cos Alex will take me dere

Where have u guyz run to. By God grace i go to Benin by 6.15pm bt go home @ 7pm yesterday. Hopefully i will fall in sch 2day

Guy where have u all run to. Am still on my way. Our bus left ph late, by God grace i will be in benin by 7pm

Guy where have u all run to. Am still on my way. Our bus left ph late, by God grace i will be in benin by 7pm

That 10k development leve na 4real, i jst see dis morning 4 sch website

Gibsonjoe:
@uche, sent u a request on fb.
@easyj, i also applied 4 and was given CSC
@all, on my way 2 benin now. Will crash at my cousin's teritory til 2moro. Wish me safe journey.

Save journey, and may the Lord go and be with u, Amen

aplexot:
Chano,were have u bin?

Please help me ask am, cos him no want to tell us

@Alex, waiten u and Osaso1 dey go do for school tomorrow?

aplexot:
Osas,i was arond your side 2 day.
Any hw holla me,make we muv,i fit leave u oh

Guys tomorrow na Wednesday 14th, waiten una dey go fine for school?

OSAS01:
@all.dis uniben of a tin just tire me ohh.i just logged on to their site uniben.edu and they say freshners go pay 10,000 4 development levy b4 we go pay school fees.abi he get tree wen dem 4 dey pluck money 4 uniben?
@ALEX.i go holla you 2moro make we fall in ben 2geda.make i carry my document follow body?

Guy which area of the site you see that info?

kelvinken:
imhomoh i knw say u dey view dis episode, were kmute sef?

[size=13pt]Guy na true talk be that, i just dey do some arrangement for my movement[/size]

kelvinken:
uniben dey tire person sef hw person lyk me wey dey use waec certificate original one 4 dat mata go stil waste 5oo buy scratch card again

[size=13pt]Guy a friend of mine told me that those with original certificate wont need to buy. but to be on a safer side, we just have to get one. And if they dont need it we can sell it right there to those that needs it.[/size]