Radioshack Corporation (RSH) Is Reportedly For Sale, But Who’s Buying?

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In a piece on Bloomberg TV earlier today former Eastman Kodak Chief Marketing officer Jeffrey Hayzlett said RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) was likely going up for sale, though he didn’t have any idea who might be trying to buy the company. Radioshack announced poor results for the second quarter of 2013 this morning, and the company’s stock has fallen by more than 4 percent in today’s trading.

RadioShack

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) could be a great investment for a group with a plan for what to do with the company. The firm has a brand that is recognized all over the United States, which isn’t bad for a sub-$300 million market cap. Add on the company’s assets, including human capital, and its current price makes it seem like a steal.

Who wants Radioshack?

The problem, as highlighted by Hayzlett, is that it seems impossible to guess who might try to buy the company. An article in The Wall Street Journal on Monday, quoting sources familiar with the matter, said that the company had brought in investment bankers in order to raise capital. Hayzlett thinks that means a sale, but there are no guarantees.

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) made a profit in 2011, but since then the company has been losing money almost continuously. The firm tends to lose money in the first three quarters and claw its way back during holiday season. That’s not exactly a business model that many are looking to buy into. If someone does come looking for Radioshack, they’ll likely be looking to completely change the store.

Tech firm or hedge fund?

There have been several attempts by big hedge funds to jump into underperforming retail stores and transform them in recent years. It wouldn’t be surprising if one of the more activist managers decided to snap up RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) and change its direction. A more interesting, and equally speculative, outcome would be an offer coming from the tech industry.

There is only one real reason to think that a technology company will move in to buy RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH); the big tech firms have more money than they know what to do with. Even Yahoo!, which has been underperforming for years, has cash to throw around on acquisitions. Tech companies have the money, and Radioshack is looking cheap.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is looking to expand its retail operation and with more hardware coming from Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), that firm might be looking to do the same thing. If there’s any advantage in it, it’s surely something Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is considering.

If RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) really is going up for sale the bidding will be interesting. The company has a high level of institutional ownership, and the sale of a company like RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) is sure to attract a large amount of interested parties. Should Hayzlett’s prediction come through things are bound to get interesting at Radioshack.

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