Samsung Electronics could be interested in buying HP's Personal Systems Group, according to a report on DigiTimes citing sources from the supply chain. The South Korean giant has reportedly contacted Taiwan-based notebook makers Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics and Pegatron Technology to evaluate the possibility of outsourcing notebook orders.
Currently, Samsung uses its plants in China to manufacture some 10 million notebooks per year. The company is usually known for its integrated supply chain as it plays a major role in the global component supply industry. However, if Samsung were to absorb HP's PC business, which ships some 40 million units per year, it would most likely need to find OEM partners to cope with the extra order volume. New PC orders from HP for 2012 are all already set, according to the report, so that's unlikely to have significant changes in the short-term.
Of course Samsung could simply be looking at the possibility of expanding its own business, but DigiTimes' sources say that Samsung's actions seem like it is already in preparation to take up Hewlett-Packard's PC unit.
Last week HP's board of directors authorized the "exploration" of strategic alternatives for its Personal Systems Group (PSG). The company is considering several options, including the sale of its PC business or spinning it off into a separate unit. Whatever the case this exploration could take some time so we'll have to wait and see where this goes.