BlackBerry maker RIM touted as bargain buy

Pallid share price makes it attractive target for likes of Microsoft and Dell

Research in Motion (RIM) has been touted as a likely takeover target after its already pallid share price was knocked further by poor quarterly results.

According to analysis from Bloomberg, the BlackBerry maker's shares are worth so little that an acquirer could pay a 50 per cent premium and still buy it for a lower multiple than any of its peers.

It put forward the likes of Microsoft and Dell as potential acquirers.

RIM's market cap has tumbled from $83bn (£52bn) to $13.6bn (at yesterday's price) over the past three years, reflecting rising competition from the likes of Apple's iPhone and Google's Android platform. Last week, it alienated investors further by warning of a slowdown in sales.

Yesterday's share price of $25.89 stood at 4.7 times earnings next year and Bloomberg suggested RIM would be an attractive target given that the average comms equipment provider trades at about 12.3 times profit.