Lenovo CEO: Why We're Kicking Packard Bell's Tires

Lenovo CEO William Amelio confirmed reports that a buyout of the now Europe-based PC maker is on the table and compared it to the historic purchase of the IBM personal computer business.

"We're always looking for growth opportunities and we wouldn't even think about anything, any acquisitions at this juncture, except the fact that the big one we have been in the process on has gone extremely well," Amelio said. "If you take a look at the acquisition -- it was almost more like a merger -- between the IBM PC group and Lenovo heritage, it's gone extremely well over the last two years. It makes sense to say, 'When we grow, do we do it organically, or does it make sense to do acquisitions?'

"We're always considering something," Amelio said. "It doesn't mean this one is actually going to make it. It's at least under consideration."

Amelio spoke in an interview on a variety of topics a week after Lenovo reported double-digit revenue growth, more than 1,100-percent growth in earnings per share and following a quarter in which it overtook Acer for third place in worldwide market share.

In its Americas region, Lenovo reported 13 percent growth over the same quarter a year earlier, and turned a profit compared to a loss in the year-ago period. Amelio credited North American sales growth to its "transaction model," which is channel-dependent. He said the company would in the coming months look to provide additional tools for solution providers as well as demand-generation and marketing campaigns.

"There was a lot of fear, doubt and uncertainty when Bill Amelio came into this job that we would not be channel-friendly," Amelio said. "I hope we dispelled that rumor over the last 18 months that I've had this assignment, and I hope the channel feels confident that we will work diligently with them to make sure we have win-win solutions in place and we have become an indispensable and valuable partner to them."

Packard Bell, one of the oldest brand names in the PC industry, is now in its most recent life as a European-focused computer and electronics manufacturer after its purchase last year from NEC by eMachines founder John Hui. It was originally founded by Beny Alagem and was one of the first makers of IBM clone PCs. It is now largely non-existent in the U.S. market, but holds the No. 3 position among PC makers in Europe.

Despite the momentum from the IBM deal and the consideration of a Packard Bell acquisition, Amelio made it clear the company would not reach all corners of the industry for deals. Asked about previous remarks by Lenovo executives that the company would seek to enter the printer market, perhaps by buying a printer maker, Amelio tossed cold water on the idea.

"We're in the printer space in China, we're just not in it elsewhere in the world yet," Amelio said. "Just like every other idea, it's a great idea. It's just when is the timing of that idea. We've got a lot on our plate today.

"I've never said we won't do printing," Amelio said. "What I will say is it's all around the timing of doing things to make sure we have the capacity from a resource and talent point of view to pull off anything we decide to do."