14 DAY TRIAL // Here is an interesting piece of news that may or may not make HTC fans happy. Apparently, Chinese electronics giant TCL has eyed HTC for its next major acquisition.
We’re not sure how serious TCL’s intentions are, but the Chinese company acquired Alcatel back in 2011 and provided the mobile division with enough resources to put it on the floating line.
After a few years of losses before being acquired by TCL, Alcatel has been profitable for the first time soon after it was operating under the Chinese company’s umbrella. To this day, Alcatel is providing enough profit for TCL to be considered a successful acquisition.
The next smartphone maker on TCL’s shopping list could be HTC. GSMDome reports Chinese blog site SCMP cites TCL’s Chairman Li Dongsheng who said in a short statement on Weibo that he admires HTC co-founder and chairman Cher Wang and that he wished their companies could join forces to better compete with Apple.
Here is the Google translation, which definitely sounds weird, but those who know Chinese can read the original statement as well:
“Although the return of the HTC Cher Wang year's time, but it was not like Steve Jobs like this brand back to life. HTC Dopod era from the beginning, has been insisting on the development direction of smart phones, and Apple at the same time he set foot in this industry.
HTC is my great admiration for the enterprise, with the Chinese mobile phone manufacturers, I hope HTC in the mobile device market can be occupied his position, on both sides of the Chinese and South Korean companies join forces to compete with Apple.”
A partial takeover is possible as well
TCL is one of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers in the world and third-biggest TV producer. The Chinese company sells TVs, mobile phone, refrigerators, smaller electrical appliances, air conditioners and other electronics, all over the world.
Dongsheng’s statement does seem to be a clear indication that TCL would be willing to acquire HTC if the Taiwanese company wants it. We shouldn’t rule out the possibility of TCL buying a small percent of shareholding for a certain amount of money that will probably be injected in development of new HTC devices.
It remains to be seen whether or not HTC is that desperate financially speaking, to accept TCL’s offer and join forces to better compete with Apple and other handset manufacturers. We’ll be keeping a close eye on any additional details on the matter, so stay tuned.