RIM Urges Canadian Government to Review

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion says Canadians want and expect the Canadian government to prevent the $1.1-billion sale of Nortel Network's coveted wireless assets to Ericsson of Sweden.

Canada-based RIM issued a statement Wednesday after the deadline passed for appeals to challenge a bankruptcy court ruling allowing the Nortel sale to the Swedish telecommunications firm.

RIM says the transaction must be reviewed to ensure that Canada's national interests are met. RIM wants Canada's industry minister to help negotiate a deal between RIM and Nortel.

Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported the sale would be evaluated by the government based on the $149 million balance sheet value of its assets, far too low to trigger a review under the Investment Canada Act.

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