Lenovo in talks to buy Packard Bell

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

NEW YORK, Aug 7 (Reuters) Lenovo Group Ltd., the world's third-largest maker of personal computers, is in talks to buy European PC maker Packard Bell BV from principal owner John Hui, the companies said on Tuesday.

Lenovo is negotiating the deal with Hui, also known as Lap Shun Hui, the former owner of eMachines, another computer maker, Packard Bell said.

''Lenovo is in exclusive talks to acquire Packard Bell,'' a Packard Bell spokesman said.

He denied a media report that Lenovo was competing with Acer Inc. to buy Packard Bell.

Lenovo said it is also working with other parties or government bodies ''in preparation for the entering into of definitive agreements for such proposed acquisition.'' Earlier Tuesday, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported that Lenovo and Acer were both vying for Packard, which Hui bought from NEC Corp. in October 2006.

Acer said in April it planned to buy a PC company in three to five months to win more market share and accelerate growth.

The company has declined to identify a potential target, saying only that it would not be a U.S. or Taiwanese company.

Lenovo, one of a handful of Chinese firms trying to forge a global brand by investing abroad, dropped to fourth place globally in the first three months of 2007, but has reclaimed the No. 3 slot from Acer in a closely fought battle, according to data from researchers Gartner and IDC.

REUTERS SRS VP0120

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