Acer H1 revenue jumps on acquisitions

Vendor sees revenues for first half of 2008 rise by almost a third

Following its acquisitions of rivals Gateway and Packard Bell, ambitious PC vendor Acer saw revenue leap by a third in the first half of 2008.

Revenue for the first six months of the year was up 31 per cent on 2007 and stood at NT$252.17bn (£4.35bn). Operating profit for the period rose 39 per cent to NT$5.45bn. Revenue for 2008's second quarter increased a third on 2007 to NT$93.52bn. Operating profit was up 38 per cent to NT$2.71bn.

Acer has been making waves in the PC market over the last 12 months after strengthening its position by acquiring two of its rivals. Last year the vendor agreed to buy out US rival Gateway in a deal worth $710m.

The acquisition came shortly after Gateway chose to exercise its right of first refusal to acquire Netherlands-based vendor Packard Bell. The European Commission earlier this year cleared the way for the deal to go ahead, ruling that it would not encroach of the marketplace's competitiveness.

This allowed Acer to thwart rival Lenovo which had long been rumoured to be interested in snapping up Packard Bell. The two acquisitions have now propelled Acer ahead of Lenovo in the PC market and it now stands as the world's third biggest vendor.