Lenovo to Buy Bulk of PC Joint Venture With NEC
Lenovo, the world’s top PC maker, is moving to expand its influence in the market by buying the bulk of NEC’s stake in a joint venture in Japan.
Lenovo will spend $195 million to buy 44 percent of NEC’s share of Lenovo NEC Holdings, a joint venture launched five years ago to give the two companies more sway in the PC market in Japan and the region. After the deal, Lenovo will own 95 percent of the joint venture, with NEC retaining 5 percent. NEC announced the sale on its Website.
At the time the joint venture was created, Lenovo was the world’s fourth-largest PC maker, while NEC was the top client vendor in a Japan market that included such vendors as Toshiba, Fujitsu and Sony, which has since spun out its Vaio PC business. Vaio now is a stand-alone PC company.
Despite the contraction in the worldwide PC market since late 2011, with shipments steadily declining over the past several years, Lenovo continues to see its PC business as foundational to its future. Over the past couple of years, Lenovo officials have looked to further diversify the company’s portfolio—in 2014, the vendor spent almost $5 billion buying IBM’s low-end x86 server business and the Motorola Mobility handset unit from Google—but have said PCs are still a core business.
According to the China Daily news organization, Lenovo Chairman Yang Yuanqing last month said that “the global PC market won’t go down forever. I believe it will maintain at about 250 million units a year.”
However, the market is expected to continue to struggle into next year. Analysts with Gartner and IDC said that in the first quarter of this year, PCs shipments declined 9.6 percent to 11.3 percent, with challenges ranging from the strong U.S. dollar and an inventory of aging systems in the channel to other upgrade programs taking priority over PC refreshes in the enterprise and the popularity of mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. IDC analysts last month revised their 2016 outlook for the market, saying the decline in shipments could hit 7.
3 percent over last year, about 2 percent lower than original expectations.
Different vendors have reacted in different ways to the downward trend in PC shipments. Both Dell and Lenovo have continued to invest in their PC businesses, seeing them as foundational to their ambitions in other areas, such as the data center. However, Hewlett-Packard officials last year split the company in two to separate PCs from its enterprise efforts. The result was two new independent companies: Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which includes its enterprise IT solutions and services units, and HP Inc., which sells PCs and printers.
The Lenovo-NEC joint venture has become the top PC vendor in Japan, a market that has been in a state of flux. For several months earlier this year, there were reports that Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio—now majority owned by Japan Industrial Partners—were in talks to combine their respective PC businesses in a joint venture that would enable them to better compete with larger global players like Lenovo, HP and Dell.
The idea was that a new vendor comprising the three companies’ PC businesses would not only be a more significant player in the global and Japanese markets, but also would enable Toshiba, Vaio and Fujitsu to save money in everything from R&D to supply chains to production.
However, reports in April surfaced that the negotiations over the joint venture were on the verge of collapsing, with Vaio walking away from the talks and Fujitsu and Toshiba officials unable to agree on which company would own a majority stake in the company.
NEC, LENOVO FINALIZE JOINT VENTURE AND LAUNCH JAPAN’S #1 PC COMPANY
Beijing and Tokyo, July 4, 2011: Lenovo and NEC Corporation (NEC) today announced the launch of NEC Lenovo Japan Group, which becomes Japan’s biggest(*) PC provider. According to recent analyst figures, the new group will total nearly 25 percent of Japan’s PC market, with a strong presence in both the commercial/government sector and in consumer sales.
The group will leverage the complementary strengths and expertise of NEC and Lenovo to provide greater value to users and partners in Japan offering competitive and innovative products and combining high standard services.
“We are proud to announce the launch of NEC Lenovo Japan Group. We have been engaged in extensive talks with NEC since the announcement of the joint venture in January to further mutual growth and cement our foundation for delivering innovative, high-quality products and services to Japanese customers. We would like to stress again that we are fully committed to the Japanese market and we are determined to continue to lead the PC industry in Japan and expand this strategic alliance beyond the PC business” stated Yang Yuanqing, CEO of Lenovo.
Based on the strategic alliance between NEC and Lenovo, NEC Lenovo Japan Group comprises of three companies: the holding company, Lenovo NEC Holdings B.V., newly founded on July 1, and its 100 percent owned subsidiary companies, NEC Personal Computers Ltd., newly formed by separating NEC’s PC business unit from NEC Personal Products Ltd., and Lenovo Japan Ltd. As a result of this transaction, NEC has received from Lenovo US$175 million through an issue of Lenovo shares.
NEC and Lenovo both hold stakes in the joint venture (51 percent by Lenovo and 49 percent by NEC). Roderick Lappin, President of Lenovo Japan Ltd., is Executive Chairman of the joint venture whilst Hideyo Takasu, President and representative director of NEC Personal Computers Ltd., is President and CEO.
“With this alliance, both companies will continue to progress and be committed to Japanese PC users as well as contributing more to the growth of the PC market in Japan. We will also strengthen our efforts to achieve the No.1 customer satisfaction for our quality, function and service. Furthermore, based on this strategic partnership, we will continue to discuss and assess new opportunities with this global partnership” stated Nobuhiro Endo, President of NEC.
The companies are inviting customers to celebrate the launch of the new joint venture with a program that will offer one million yen worth of prizes through NEC Direct and Lenovo Shopping, shopping sites belonging to both companies.
Winners will be selected by lottery. Details of the “NEC Lenovo Japan Group Launch Celebration Campaign,” which runs from July 4, 2011 to August 4, 2011 are available at http://campaign.nec-lenovo.jp/.
Along with the formal launch of the joint venture, NEC Lenovo Japan today announced the following two new initiatives to enhance the customers’ experience in technical support:
1) NEC’s “Product Help Support” service, provided by 121 Contact Center, will now extend free technical support beyond the first year. Previously customers had to pay for a second year of support, but from January 2012, customers will receive free support for the lifetime of their PC ownership. This free customer support service will enable NEC to further enhance the user experience by making the company’s trouble-shooting service more readily available. Terms of the product support service for enterprise customers will remain unchanged.
2) NEC Personal Computer Ltd. will bring its extensive know-how in customer services to the joint venture, and will be entrusted with Lenovo’s telephone-based consumer PC support service in Japan from October 2011.
This will help Lenovo deliver even stronger local support to its customers in Japan. Terms of the product support service for enterprise customers will remain unchanged.
The new group will maintain the Lenovo and NEC brands and each product will continue to be sold through their existing respective sales channels. By combining the strengths of the two companies such as NEC’s extensive experience in Japan and Lenovo’s global scale in supply chain and procurement, Lenovo and NEC will bolster their product development structures and deliver high-quality, high-performance products.
*Source: IDC Japan, Japan Personal Computing Quarterly Model Analysis Q1 CA2011
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $US21 billion personal technology company serving customers in more than 160 countries, and the world’s fourth-largest PC vendor. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution.
Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (TSE:6701) is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.
For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com
ThinkPad | Mobile workstations, laptops and 2-in-1s for your business
Continuous innovation.
Computer technologies. Ways of doing business. Our daily life. ThinkPad has helped companies break new ground and push the limits of what’s possible many times. Being the first is our tradition .
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Our units are equipped with Intelligent Cooling Engine; it prevents overheating and ensures low noise levels. ThinkPad sensors detect how the laptop is used and adjust heat dissipation based on whether the device is placed on a desktop or on the user’s lap.
The intelligent cooling system is responsible for low noise and high reliability.
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Say goodbye to your webcam lens. ThinkPad devices are equipped with a ThinkShutter privacy shutter. Slide it with one movement of your finger and hide from prying eyes. Most of the products in our portfolio are equipped with a webcam shutter.
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We want our customers to be happy and therefore strive to improve the processes, ergonomics and usability of our devices. With them, you can focus on achieving the highest results in your activities.
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During the course of the day, your hand moves between keyboard and mouse to cover a distance almost equal to the length of an Olympic swimming pool. The small red trackpoint located in the center of every ThinkPad keyboard helps you avoid this strain and execute commands without using a mouse.
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Most ThinkPad notebooks are equipped with long-range, dual-array noise-canceling microphones for incredibly clear sound. You can enjoy sound quality both during conference calls and while watching videos. The latest ThinkPads come with Dolby Atmos® speaker technology for unparalleled sound quality. nine0007
What is the current special offer for Lenovo devices? — Dropbox Help
If you haven’t used Dropbox yet and purchased a specific Lenovo computer model in September 2020 or later, you’re likely eligible for a bonus 100 GB of Dropbox space valid for 12 months after purchase.
This space is in addition to the 2 GB already available in the free Dropbox Basic plans.
How do I get a bonus seat for using a Lenovo computer? nine0059
If the promotion applies to your device, please create a new Dropbox account to claim your bonus space. This special offer is only available to new customers with select Lenovo computers.
How long will I have bonus space in my account?
The 100 GB Bonus on the purchase of eligible Lenovo devices is valid for 12 months from the date of activation of the offer.
How long can I get a bonus seat? nine0003
The offer is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase of the device.
Which Lenovo devices are eligible for the promotion?
Your device is eligible if you see a prompt to install Dropbox.
If I purchase more than one eligible device, can I get more than one bonus seat?
No. Each Dropbox account can only participate in a specific type of promotion once.
For example, you can only get 100 GB for 12 months for a Lenovo device only once. nine0007
Can I transfer bonus space to another Dropbox account?
No. Once you have received a bonus seat, it cannot be transferred to anyone.
Can I get a bonus seat for using a used device?
No. Only the purchaser of a new device, which is subject to the conditions of the promotion, can receive a bonus place.
Why am I not entitled to a bonus seat?
If you could not get a bonus seat, this could happen for the following reasons:
- You have already received a bonus seat for using a Lenovo device. The bonus seat offered in a certain type of promotion can only be redeemed once.
- For example, you can only get 100 GB for 12 months for a Lenovo device once, even if you buy multiple devices.
- You didn’t see the prompt to sign in to your Dropbox account or create a new Dropbox account.
- You bought a non-new device that was used by someone before you, and its previous owner has already received the bonus space due to the promotion.
- The promotion may not apply to your country or supplier.
- You are signed in to an existing Dropbox account.
My device is eligible for the promotion. Why can’t I get my bonus seat?
If you were unable to claim your bonus seat using your eligible device, this could be due to several reasons:
- You have already received a bonus seat for participating in another Lenovo promotion, and the bonus seat offered in a certain type of promotion can only be received once
- You do not have a new device, and someone owned it before you, and only the buyer of a new device, which is subject to the terms of promotion
, can get a bonus place
How can I check if there is a bonus spot in my account?
You can check if a bonus spot has appeared in your account by opening the account page and pressing Show all bonus place .
How to check when the bonus seat expires?
To check when the bonus seat was activated, open the account page and click Show all bonus seat .
The bonus seat expires 12 months after activation.
What happens when the bonus seat expires?
When the Bonus Space expires, your Dropbox account will automatically return to the size it was before the Bonus Space was added. For example, if you have a Basic account, it will be back to 2 GB (plus space earned by referring friends or participating in other promotions). nine0007
If your Dropbox account exceeds the storage limit after the promotion expires, you will no longer be able to save new photos, videos, and documents. For more space, upgrade to Dropbox Plus.
Terms of the 100 GB bonus Dropbox space promotion for Lenovo computers (current promotion)
Owners of Lenovo computers purchased in September 2020 or later must be the first to register with Dropbox on that computer to participate in the promotion. Under the terms of the promotion, users of personal Dropbox accounts for 12 months from the date of activation are provided with 100 GB in addition to the space already available in the free account.
You can only take part in this promotion once. After 12 months, the additional 100 GB will be automatically removed from your account. Use of Dropbox is subject to the Dropbox Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and other policies. The promotion is not valid in Iran, China, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and Sudan. nine0007
Previous Lenovo promotions and terms and conditions
Dropbox has previously participated in several promotions for Lenovo devices. If you purchased a Lenovo device prior to September 2020, you can find older promotions listed below:
Terms of the 30 GB Bonus Dropbox Space for Lenovo PCs promotion (ended promotion)
Owners of Lenovo PCs purchased in January 2017 or later who have been shown a Dropbox Lenovo Welcome invitation, must be the first person on that computer to (a) sign up for Dropbox and (b) complete five of the seven tasks in the Getting Started guide to participate in the promotion. Under the terms of the promotion, users of personal Dropbox accounts for 12 months from the date of activation are provided with 30 GB in addition to the space already available in the free account.
You can only take part in this promotion once. After 12 months, the additional 30 GB will be automatically removed from your account. Use of Dropbox is subject to the Dropbox Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and other policies. The promotion is not valid in Iran, China, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and Sudan. nine0007
Dropbox 15 GB Lenovo Device Promotion Terms (ended) «Where to begin». Under the terms of the promotion, users of a personal Dropbox account are provided with 15 GB for 6 months in addition to the space already available in the free account. You can only take part in this promotion once. The promotion does not apply to users who have already received a bonus place by purchasing a device from another company. After 6 months, the additional 15 GB will be automatically removed from your account. Use of Dropbox is subject to the Dropbox Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and other policies. The promotion is not valid in Iran, China, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and Sudan. nine0007
Dropbox 25GB Bonus Promotion Terms for Lenovo Devices in Japan (ended promotion)
Owners of Lenovo devices in Japan with Dropbox pre-installed in order to participate in the promotion must (a) register with Dropbox using the pre-installed app and (b) complete the tasks in the «Getting Started» section.