Acer PC deal with SNI at risk

Acer's agreement to buy Siemens Nixdorf's (SNI) ailing PC manufacturing business is under threat as 'unforeseen complexities' continue to stall attempts to thrash out a deal.

Acer, which manufactures OEM PCs for major vendors, signed a memorandum of understanding to buy SNI's PC plant on 23 April for an undisclosed sum.

But last week, it emerged the deal, which was originally planned to be completed by the end of June, had stalled on a number of issues, including the nature of the supply agreement between the companies and the payment of pensions to 2,000 workers at the Siemens plant.

An Acer representative in Taiwan confirmed the deadline for completion had been shifted to the end of July: 'The reasons are that it is a complex deal and we under-estimated how long it would take.'

The representative admitted the new deadline was an 'aggressive target' and the outcome was not cut and dried. 'There is always a small risk the deal will not go through at all,' she said.

Industry watchers remain cautious about the likelihood of the deal going ahead. IDC senior analyst James Faulk said: 'At present, I would say the deal will go ahead, but if there is still no sign of an agreement by mid-August, that would make things more complex.'

Another analyst source said an aborted deal could have dire consequences for SNI. 'Siemens has already said there is no money in PCs. If it falls apart now they will be left with a plant they don't want. Acer, on the other hand, won't be too bothered.'

SNI said discussions were 'ongoing'. Last week, the company said it would step up its restructuring efforts and seek a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.