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re: BlackBerry's 11th Hour: How It Can Survive
Yes, I absolutely believe that Fairfax is in desperation mode. You have had to follow this entire saga from day one to understand what is happening.
Watsa, who is called the Canadian Warren Buffet, because his company mimics what Buffet does, abet on a smaller scale, has invested heavily in RIM over the years, the one way his company differs from BH. But he's lost big in those investments, losing billions in the process. His investment has shrunk to about $450 million, with 10% of the shares.
Now, think of what's happened. He's made this offer, but refuses to put any more of Fairfax's money into it. He announces that the rest is with outside investors (no other large stakeholder in Blackberry is involved.) but he, so far, has refused to name any of those other investors. Odd, no?
Then we have the timing. This occurred not before the devastating last quarter results were given the preliminary announcement, but after, an announcement he knew about because he sits, or sat on their board at the time. Why then? The value of the company is much less now. And the timing is suspicious. Blackberry announced that they will cancel the normal analyst call because of the offer. Hmm! Now no one can ask Heins and the others any questions about the state of the company.
And even though Watsa says that he has the deal in place, and Blackberry supposedly has accepted that deal, he's got an alternate plan in place. One that will saddle the company with $4 billion in debt. But this will allow him to suck over a billion out of the deal for his company. Not making up the long term horrendous losses he's suffered, but making a great profit on his current investment.
Whatever happens, Fairfax won't lose money in this deal vs the current value of their investment as they aren't adding to it.
Very strange, isn't it?
And now, despite supposedly accepting this deal, Blackberry is contacting several companies to ask if they are interested in buying them. This is very odd. I've never seen anything like this mess before, and I've been doing this since I was 13, and that's 50 years.
Watsa, who is called the Canadian Warren Buffet, because his company mimics what Buffet does, abet on a smaller scale, has invested heavily in RIM over the years, the one way his company differs from BH. But he's lost big in those investments, losing billions in the process. His investment has shrunk to about $450 million, with 10% of the shares.
Now, think of what's happened. He's made this offer, but refuses to put any more of Fairfax's money into it. He announces that the rest is with outside investors (no other large stakeholder in Blackberry is involved.) but he, so far, has refused to name any of those other investors. Odd, no?
Then we have the timing. This occurred not before the devastating last quarter results were given the preliminary announcement, but after, an announcement he knew about because he sits, or sat on their board at the time. Why then? The value of the company is much less now. And the timing is suspicious. Blackberry announced that they will cancel the normal analyst call because of the offer. Hmm! Now no one can ask Heins and the others any questions about the state of the company.
And even though Watsa says that he has the deal in place, and Blackberry supposedly has accepted that deal, he's got an alternate plan in place. One that will saddle the company with $4 billion in debt. But this will allow him to suck over a billion out of the deal for his company. Not making up the long term horrendous losses he's suffered, but making a great profit on his current investment.
Whatever happens, Fairfax won't lose money in this deal vs the current value of their investment as they aren't adding to it.
Very strange, isn't it?
And now, despite supposedly accepting this deal, Blackberry is contacting several companies to ask if they are interested in buying them. This is very odd. I've never seen anything like this mess before, and I've been doing this since I was 13, and that's 50 years.
re: BlackBerry's 11th Hour: How It Can Survive
I was joking, but point taken. I also tend to agree that BlackBerry is toast on the consumer side. However, I disagree that there's no substance here. BB has some good technology -- $4.7 billion may be high, but are you arguing that Fairfax is throwing that money to the wind with no plan?
re: BlackBerry's 11th Hour: How It Can Survive
Lorna, you're making a big mistake. Never assume that you know what another person is thinking, because you most certainly do not know what I am thinking.
Being realistic about something is not the same as hoping that it will happen. But at this time, it's clear that Blackberry has had it. If you can't see that, then you aren't looking hard enough. We get these pundits like Harris who don't know what they're talking about say things that aren't reality. Why? Because they have to write something, because that's how they get paid. And with all the gloom, rightly deserved over Blackberry's future, an article that goes the other way will get more clicks.
But if you hang out at the sites where someone will write drivel like this, then you're missing the big picture. You need to look at what has happened over the past few years in the industry, see where Blackberry was, where they are now, and how they got here. Then look at their leaders.
If you do, you won't think they can be saved either.
Being realistic about something is not the same as hoping that it will happen. But at this time, it's clear that Blackberry has had it. If you can't see that, then you aren't looking hard enough. We get these pundits like Harris who don't know what they're talking about say things that aren't reality. Why? Because they have to write something, because that's how they get paid. And with all the gloom, rightly deserved over Blackberry's future, an article that goes the other way will get more clicks.
But if you hang out at the sites where someone will write drivel like this, then you're missing the big picture. You need to look at what has happened over the past few years in the industry, see where Blackberry was, where they are now, and how they got here. Then look at their leaders.
If you do, you won't think they can be saved either.
re: BlackBerry's 11th Hour: How It Can Survive
I dislike seeing technologists almost gleefully wishing for a two-provider marketplace and burying MS and BB. Competition is a good thing, remember! Why would anyone want a world where your choice is Google/Samsung or Apple? HTC just posted a loss even though the One is a fantastic phone. Be careful whet you wish for, Mel ...
re: BlackBerry's 11th Hour: How It Can Survive
A year ago, I MIGHT have agreed with this. Two years ago I certainly would have agreed with this. But it's too late now.
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10/7/2013 | 8:45:57 PM