Acer: 'We're not for sale'

Acer has denied that it is open to a takeover, in response to reports surrounding comments made by chairman Stan Shih last week.

Speaking to Taiwanese media last week, Shih said the struggling computer maker would “welcome” a takeover, but added that any buyer would receive an “empty shell”.

In a customer email sighted by CRN, Acer Pan Asia-Pacific president Oliver Ahrens said Shih's comment was sarcastic and taken out of context, and that a takeover would not be supported by Acer’s management.

“In lack of real news, content this statement was transformed into [an] ‘M&A welcome’ story, journalistically questionable and factually wrong,” Ahrens said. "Acer does not invite any takeover or M&A. Acer is fully committed to our strategy of [an] integrated hardware, software and services company.

"Acer will continue to drive and invest into our core PC business and further expand into [a] communication and solution business based on our BYOC [bring your own cloud] strategy," he said.

Ahrens also denied media reports that Acer’s profits were operationally negative, saying it had 30.8 percent year-on-year growth on operating income in Q2 2015.

Acer Australia declined to add further comment.

The company reported a T$176 million (A$5.40 million) net profit in the first six months of 2015, with stock prices falling by nearly half since April.

Locally, Acer Australia reported a $45 million profit turnaround, with a pre-tax profit of $1 million for its 2014 financial year. Net profits were dragged down by a $1.9 million tax bill, resulting in a net loss of $900,000.