China’s Lenovo sees RIM as M&A option, CFO says

A senior Lenovo executive said on Thursday that the Chinese computer maker may consider Research in Motion as a takeover target, sending the Blackberry maker’s shares up 2 percent just a week before it launches a make-or-break line of redesigned smartphones.

But Levovo, which vaulted into the personal computer market with its 2005 purchase of IBM’s (IBM.N) PC division, would face formidable hurdles if it tried to buy a company that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper once described as a national “crown jewel.” The Chinese company would also encounter tough regulatory scrutiny in Washington, cybersecurity experts say.

Lenovo, on track to become the world’s largest PC maker, has held talks with RIM and its bankers about various combinations or strategic ventures, its chief financial officer, Wong Wai Ming, said on Thursday.

“We are looking at all opportunities – RIM and many others,” Wong told Bloomberg in an interview at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “We’ll have no hesitation if the right opportunity comes along.”

A spokesman for Lenovo said Wong was asked about RIM by the Bloomberg journalist and that Wong was speaking broadly about Lenovo’s M&A strategy.

CRUCIAL JUNCTURE

RIM, once a pioneer in the smartphone industry, has struggled in recent years as its aging line-up of devices have ceded market share to Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iPhone and devices based on Google Inc’s (GOOG.O) Android operating system.

RIM hopes its new touch-screen and keyboard devices, powered by its new BlackBerry 10 operating system, will help it claw back some of the lost ground. Optimism surrounding the launch has powered the stock higher in recent weeks.

Last May the Waterloo, Ontario-based company announced a far-reaching strategic review under which it was expected to examine all options, from software licensing deals to an outright sale of the company.

Earlier this week, RIM shares surged to a 13-month high after Chief Executive Thorsten Heins said RIM might consider strategic alliances with other companies after next week’s BlackBerry 10 launch.

In an interview with a German newspaper on Monday, Heins said RIM’s ongoing strategic review could lead to the sale of its handset business or the licensing of its software to rival smartphone companies.

Even so, analysts expressed skepticism about a Lenovo bid.

“Anybody who’s serious about buying a company doesn’t go talking it up… It sounds to me like a comment made more for publicity’s sake than a serious approach for RIM,” said Charter Equity analyst Ed Snyder. “It is a very long shot at the best.’

NET BENEFIT TEST

Any bid for RIM would face a rigorous review by the Ottawa to determine whether the deal would bring a “net benefit” to Canada. The Investment Canada Act gives the government the authority to kill deals that could harm Canadian interests or threaten the country’s national security.

In response to the comments by Heins, Canada’s Industry Minister Christian Paradis told Reuters earlier this week that Canada may even go to the extent of reviewing a sale of RIM’s handset business if such a deal was proposed.

“Research in Motion has made an important contribution to information and communications technology in Canada, a sector that is so important to the Canadian economy. We hope they continue to do so well into the future,” Paradis said in an emailed response to the Lenovo comments on Thursday.

Lenovo’s acquisition trail over the past few years, such as the purchase of Germany’s Medion in 2011 and IBM’s PC business in 2005, has sparked market talk that it could be interested in handset makers such as RIM and Nokia Oyj (NOK1V.HE).

Lenovo executives have denied on separate occasions last year that there were such plans.

Cybersecurity experts said Lenovo would likely go up against tough U.S. government scrutiny as well since the Defense Department and other agencies rely on the Blackberry, which is considered more secure than other smartphones.

Should Lenovo acquire RIM, it could lose a major client – the U.S. government – as U.S. officials would be reluctant to use products owned by a Chinese company due to national security concerns, analysts say.

“A potential acquisition of RIM by Lenovo would raise a number of important security issues,” said Michael Wessel, a Commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, appointed by Congress.

“Government employees are one of the largest users of RIM’s BlackBerry products and the security of their communications has to be of paramount concern,” said Wessel, adding that he was speaking on behalf of himself and not the Commission.

After the comments from Lenovo, a RIM spokesman said the company had nothing new to report on its strategic review.

RIM shares closed 2.2 percent higher at $17.74 on Thursday the Nasdaq. The Toronto-listed shares closed 2.9 percent higher at C$17.80. RIM is a volatile stock, and moves of 3 percent and more are not uncommon.

Its shares are down almost 90 percent from an all-time high of over $148 in 2008, but the stock has rallied in the last four months as the launch of the BlackBerry 10 devices nears. The company’s shares have nearly tripled in value since dipping as low as $6.22 in late September.

Lenovo’s shares fell 2.73 percent in Hong Kong during Friday trade, after closing 6.6 percent higher in the previous session. (Reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto, Diane Bartz in Washington, Randall Palmer in Ottawa, Sinead Carew in New York and Kelvin Soh in Davos; Editing by Frank McGurty, Leslie Gevirtz and Ryan Woo)

Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/01/25/lenovo-rim-shares-idINDEE90O04720130125

Lenovo showcases latest business and consumer innovations in Egypt

Lenovo introduced the focus product range for the Egypt market in 2013 including its range of convertibles, such as the Lenovo Yoga and ThinkPad Twist, as well as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, IdeaCentre A720 All-in-One, ThinkPad Tablet 2 amongst others.
At an event at the Four Seasons Hotel, Cairo; Lenovo Egypt Country Manager Yasser Shaheen outlined that Lenovo is the #3 player in Egypt with 14.2% market share and 36.6% YTY growth and the #4 player in MEA with 36.3%.

In the last year, Lenovo achieved the highest growth amongst the top 10 main vendors in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), securing a milestone ten per cent market share in seven countries across the region including Egypt, UAE, South Africa, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar. As such, Lenovo’s MEA business is recognized as being a significant contributor to the global revenue growth which has assisted the PC manufacturer in achieving 2nd position in the market amongst PC manufacturers worldwide.

Lenovo recognizes the importance of emerging markets such as MEA for sustained growth with Egypt set to play an important role in its bid to hit the number one spot. “Lenovo has a market share of 7.7% in the Middle East and Africa region, resulting from sales growth increasing 36.3% in this period last year (Q4 2011). In Egypt, one of our key strategic markets, we rank #2 in Portable PC market with 26.1% YTY growth and #4 in Desktop PC with 149.7% YTY growth.

“Success so far has been driven by Egypt’s strong enthusiasm for new technologies, especially in the convertibles which complement Lenovo’s PC+ strategy model where new form factors blur the lines between the tablet and the laptop. We think these innovative convertibles are the best devices for a groundbreaking touch screen experience, plus their multi-modes give people even more ways to use their PC. It is important to Lenovo worldwide to bring innovative devices to the Middle East region as we see businesses and consumers enthusiastic and eager adopters of innovation, especially in the Egyptian market,” said Yasser Shaheen.

Products launched in Egypt are designed to cater to the varied consumer, small to medium (SMB) and enterprise markets ranging from desktops and All-in-One devices all the way to the latest convertible suite. Lenovo has a track record of product innovation in commercial and SMB PCs, and its comprehensive line-up caters to the different user requirements in Egypt. Lenovo’s portfolio features innovations developed for SMBs, such as Lenovo Solutions for Small Business (LSSB), a pre-loaded security and productivity software suite in selected ThinkPad models. In addition to Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience 3.0, proprietary to Lenovo PCs, that also increases the performance and productivity of Lenovo device users.

Lenovo Yoga 13 Flexes Into Totally Unique Poses

The Lenovo Yoga’s revolutionary hinge allows it to uniquely move 360° and fold from laptop to tablet in one simple motion. As one of the world’s first multi-mode Ultrabooks, Yoga 13 provides a high level of flexibility between work and play without compromises. Infused with powerful 3rd generation Intel Core processors and powered by Windows 8, Yoga 13 provides laptop-grade performance to get work done all day without slowing down, thanks to its super slim 16.9 mm frame and eight hours of battery life. At the flip of the hinge, Yoga 13 transforms into a media-friendly tablet primed with rich audio-visual features like Dolby Home Theatre. Visuals, such as photos, videos and websites, look stunning on its 13.3-in high definition IPS display, which provides bright background and vivid colors. Users can gesture to flip through photos with Yoga 13’s special Motion Control technology or simply use their fingers on the multi-touch screen.

Lenovo Yoga 11 Balances Power and Mobility

Its smaller screen size counterpart, Yoga 11, is the world’s slimmest multi-mode PC, measuring just 15.6 mm. Yoga 11’s slim design, 11.6-in screen and long 13 hour battery life make it a great convertible for mobility. Yoga 11 lets users watch HD movies, play games, get connected and stay productive with Microsoft Office applications virtually all day long. As an added bonus, both Yoga 13 and 11 can be used in completely new ways: convert them into a Stand1 by flipping the keyboard behind the screen to watch movies or view pictures, or bend them upright like a Tent2 to play games or video chat.

ThinkPad Twist Puts New Spin on Small Business Computing

ThinkPad Twist makes it easy to choose one affordable device that can do it all. Use it as a full-performance Ultrabook, and then twist the top to switch to a convertible tablet. The 12.5-in ThinkPad Twist gives professionals the technologies they need for both their business and personal computing. For exceptional business-class productivity, ThinkPad Twist packages up to 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors, up to Windows 8 Pro, optional 3G3, large storage up to 500 GB or 128 GB SSD and the ThinkPad-brand’s legendary keyboard, quality and reliability features. Users can work for hours with nearly all-day battery life and tablet-like quick resume from standby. This powerful machine also includes dedicated software tools specifically for small business including Lenovo Solutions for Small Business powered by Intel Small Business Advantage and Lenovo Cloud Storage by SugarSync.

ThinkPad Twist’s luminous high definition 350nit HD display and Dolby Home Theatre audio produce a stand out multimedia experience, and whether it’s a client video presentation or action-packed movie, simply connect to high definition video with Twist’s mini-HDMI or DisplayPort jack and turn up the volume. Like Yoga, Twist can convert into new modes like Stand, a great position for work collaboration via the multi-touch screen.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is Lenovo’s premier Ultrabook weighs less than three pound and packs a high resolution 14-inch display into a 13-inch laptop design. While incredibly light thanks to its carbon fiber construction, it retains ThinkPad’s renowned durability for use in practically any environment. To keep users up and running, the X1 Carbon provides eight hours of battery life and industry-best charge times with Lenovo RapidCharge technology. Equipped with optional 3G mobile broadband and hotspot technology, users can stay connected virtually anywhere, anytime. The X1 Carbon also includes a multi-gesture glass surface touchpad, HD face-tracking camera, dual array microphones and Dolby-tuned audio for crisp and clear sound. Business ready with Intel vPro technology, the X1 Carbon is among the first Ultrabooks to offer true corporate-level security and manageability, and for expansion capabilities and to manage unsightly cables, users can dock it via Lenovo’s new USB3 Dock.

ThinkPad Tablet on the go

The ThinkPad Tablet 2, designed for Windows 8 and powered by Intel’s next generation CPU technology, redefines business, appeasing IT manager and end user alike in one productive, mobile, reliable device.. This multi-use tablet lasts over 10 hours on a single charge, weighs in at 1.3 pounds – lighter than its leading tablet competitor – includes an optional digitizer an\d pen for precision input, offers 3G wireless for anywhere, anytime connectivity and runs Windows 8 apps and familiar desktop applications. This versatile tablet lets users work the way they want to with multi-finger touch support, pen input or the ability to connect to the optional ThinkPad Tablet 2 keyboard and dock for a PC-like computing experience. The ThinkPad Tablet 2 includes a host of IT manageability, security and corporate-level service and support to help IT managers easily deploy in their business environments.

IdeaCentre A720 All-in-One: Flexible and Stylish Touch Computing for the Digital Home

As the industry’s slimmest 27″ all-in-one and sporting a sleek metal exterior, the IdeaCentre A720 measures less than an inch (24.5mm) and combines a frameless display supporting 10-point multi-touch. The A720 continues Lenovo’s heritage of svelte designs for the AIO by smartly positioning the PC at the base on the unit. Improving AIO design even further, the A720 is engineered to optimize the touch experience in the ‘digital’ home. The A720’s widely adjustable hinge allows the screen to be pulled towards the user and folded back making touch applications more comfortable over longer periods in any position.

Go Thin – Go Light with the IdeaPad S300 and S400

Lenovo expanded its ultraportable IdeaPad product line with the IdeaPad S300 and S400 laptops. These affordable thin and light laptops strike a balance between portability and performance for consumers who want more computing power than a notebook, long battery life and a lower price point. Measuring just 21.9mm thin (less than one inch) and weighing 1.8kg (less than four lbs), the S Series features a sleek exterior design with a stylish metallic finish powered by either 3rd generation Intel Core processor. The S Series laptops combine comfort, simplicity and responsiveness to give consumers an affordable PC with quality construction and solid performance. Equipped with the latest technology, Lenovo IdeaPad S300 and S400 laptops are available with Intel’s 3rd generation Core i3 or i5 processors.

It is worth mentioning that Lenovo and SugarSync have launched Lenovo Cloud Storage by SugarSync, the first Cloud storage service to be integrated as an out-of-box experience broadly on Lenovo’s PCs and tablets. Lenovo users will enjoy a very generous 5GB of free Cloud storage space with their new devices.

Since establishing operations in Egypt, Lenovo has been committed in investing and empowering and its channel of partners.

“We have recently launched the Lenovo Partner Network Program designed to skill-up channel partners in Egypt. The introduction of the program reflects Lenovo’s long term commitment to equipping partners with in depth knowledge and tools to enhance their relationship with the PC manufacturer including access to a free online resource and a loyalty reward scheme,” added Yasser Shaheen.

Comprised of three membership levels – Member, Premium and Gold Partner – the program is designed to educate partners and potential members on the benefits of working with Lenovo. The program rewards loyal customers through an updated membership status (Premium or Gold) whereby they are entitled to additional resource and benefits.