CHINESE SYSTEM BUILDER Lenovo is considering bidding on Research in Motion (RIM) in order to boost its mobile business.
Lenovo, which is strongly tipped to overtake HP as the largest PC maker, has been relatively quiet in the smartphone and tablet markets. However the firm's CFO Wong Wai Ming told journalists that the firm views RIM as one of many options as it looks at ways to grow its mobile business.
Talking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ming said, "We are looking at all opportunities - RIM and many others [...] We'll have no hesitation if the right opportunity comes along that could benefit us and shareholders."
Although Lenovo has been in the PC business for a long time, its surprise purchase of IBM's PC business in 2005 really helped the Chinese company take on market leaders Dell and HP.
RIM has been conducting a strategic review after years of falling behind rivals such as Apple and Samsung. Lenovo said it wouldn't comment on the report and said Ming was talking in broad terms, but it didn't deny that RIM is at least being considered as an option.
Lenovo told The INQUIRER, "We are aware that Lenovo's CFO Wai Ming was speaking broadly about M&A [mergers and acquisition] strategy in a recent interview. RIM was raised as a potential target by the journalist and Mr [Wai Ming] Wong repeatedly answered in a manner consistent with all of our previous statements on M&A strategy.
"Lenovo is very focused on growing its business, both organically and through M&A. When inorganic ideas arise, we explore them to see if there is a strategic fit."
RIM is gearing up for its Blackberry 10 launch next week, which will include new devices and the updated operating system. ยต
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