Is a major shake-up imminent at RIM?

Jaguar Financial Corp, a Canadian Bank, with investments in Research In Motion, has claimed that at least 8 percent of the BlackBerry maker's shareholders, including some institutional investors, are backing its call for a corporate shake-up, or outright sale, at the struggling Canadian company. According to Jaguar, the percentage of shareholders who support its position for a sweeping management change at RIM is on the rise.

The news agency, Thomson Reuters, quotes the Jaguar Chief Executive, Vic Alboini, as saying, Our supportive shareholders approve Jaguar's plan to negotiate, at this point in time, changes in governance and the pursuit of a value creation transaction. As devices made by Apple or those powered by Googles Android have captured a sizable chunk of BlackBerrys traditional market, RIMs shares have been battered this year.

Jaguar has a history of targeting under-performing companies. In case of RIM, Jaguar wants the company to hire a new chief executive who will replace the two current co-CEOs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie. Jaguar also wants RIM to put itself up for sale, either as a whole or in parts. If Jaguars claim of having the 8 percent support is true, then it could demand a shareholders meeting, which would significantly ratchet up the pressure on RIMs board.

Alboini said, Everybody is in support of a sale of RIM or another value creative transaction. Like splitting the company into separate public companies - a network company, a device company and a patents company. Since the stock plunge this year, Jaguar has accumulated more RIMs stock.

RIMs troubles are also being compounded by the fact that many of its services have been facing technical failure in different parts of the globe. Users across Europe, the Asia and Africa have been affected. Many BlackBerry users have been complaining that they are unable to access the Internet, or sent emails or BBM instant messages. RIM has been criticised for its tardy and inadequate public response to the failures.

Many analysts are of the opinion that RIMs leaders have lost their way in competing in a technology landscape that has changed dramatically, forcing it to play catch-up to the likes of Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics and HTC. That is the reason why Jaguars call for bringing in a new management at the BlackBerry maker is resonating with RIMs frustrated shareholders.

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