Lenovo has issued a statement downplaying a recent Bloomberg report which quoted Lenovo CFO Wong Waiming as saying the company was looking at Research In Motion (RIM) as a potential acquisition target.
Lenovo says: "We are aware that Lenovo's CFO [Wong] Waiming was speaking broadly about M&A strategy in a recent interview. RIM was raised as a potential target by the journalist and Mr 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 shares jumped to their highest price in a year last week on the back of speculation around a Lenovo acquisition, along with the optimism around the launch of BlackBerry 10 and RIM CEO Thorsten Hein's comments that the company would consider licensing its software or selling its hardware unit.
Also responding to the Bloomberg report, RIM issued a statement saying: "Thorsten Heins has made it very clear that we are focused on the delivery of BlackBerry 10, which we will launch with events around the world on 30 January.
"As he said on our most recent results conference call on 20 December, we continue to examine all available options to 'create new opportunities, focusing on areas where we will be more effective partnering rather than going it alone, and ultimately maximising value for all stakeholders'. We do not have anything new to report on our strategic review at this time."
Lenovo is trying to strengthen its mobile business internationally and replicate the success it has seen in the Chinese market. It has, however, been noted that any serious attempt to acquire RIM would be heavily scrutinised by the Canadian and US governments.
Last week, a commissioner on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Michael Wessel, said: "A potential acquisition of RIM by Lenovo would raise a number of important security issues. 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."
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