Tulip scotches rumours about Samsung talks

Reports that Tulip is seeking an alliance with an unidentified consumer electronics manufacturer have been denied by the Dutch company?s UK MD Neil Grayston.

Het Financieele Dagblad ? the Netherlands? answer to the Financial Times ? reported comments made by Tulip director Robert Romein in computer magazine CM Corporate. He said the company would step up its search for a partner which could help reduce its high overhead costs.

Tulip?s negotiations with an unamed Asian manufacturer were broken off at the end of last year, according to the Dutch newspaper, which quotes ?sources in the electronics industry? who say the company was Samsung.

Grayston said he had heard nothing about Tulip seeking a partner and, moreover, that he had been told no alliance was going to be formed. ?I can categorically tell you that no deal is going down at the moment ? certainly not in the UK.?

Grayston said talks with Samsung were highly unlikely. ?I can?t think of any logical rationale why they would want to deal with us any more than we would want to deal with them.?

Over the past 18 months Tulip has been reported to be involved in negotiations with Mitsubishi and Philips, rumours which Grayston said were without foundation.