Huawei Said to Sell Key Server Division Due to US Blacklisting
Huawei Technologies Co. is in advanced talks to sell its x86 server business after the U.S. blacklisting of the company made it difficult to secure processors from Intel Corp., the latest blow to the Chinese technology giant from American sanctions, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Shenzhen-based company is selling the server business to a consortium that includes at least one government-backed buyer, the people said, asking not to be identified because the negotiations arenât public. The precise value of the deal couldnât be learned, but itâs likely billions of yuan, they said.
Several potential buyers from the government and the private sector emerged in recent months. Henan Information Industry Investment Co. Ltd., a Zhengzhou-based state-owned firm that has been a partner of Huaweiâs server business, is a leading player, one of the people said. Consumer electronics maker Huaqin Technology Co. Ltd. and an asset management company representing the Hubei provincial government, are involved in the talks, the people said. Itâs unclear if the companies are bidding separately or as part of the same consortium.
Huawei declined to comment. The potential buyers didnât respond to requests for comment.
Huawei, once a national champion with dominant positions in mobile phones and communications equipment, has had to overhaul operations since the Trump administration began a sweeping campaign against the company in 2018. The company sold its smartphone brand Honor to a consortium led by the Shenzhen government for an undisclosed amount a year ago because the U.S. banned American companies like Qualcomm Inc. from supplying certain components, including 5G chips, to Huawei.
The export restrictions have taken a financial toll. Huawei just reported that third-quarter revenue slumped 38% to 135 billion yuan ($21.2 billion), the fourth straight quarterly decline in sales. Companyâs Rotating Chairman Guo Ping said in a statement that enterprise businesses were stable while its consumer divisions have been âsignificantly impacted.â
The x86 server line was not a core business for Huawei. The company has developed its own servers for its cloud-computing business, powered by ARM-based processors that use Huaweiâs Kunpeng technology.
Huawei has forged a strong business relationship with government-backed companies in Henan. Huanghe Kunpeng, an arm under Henan Information Industry Investment, has been using Huaweiâs Kunpeng processors to develop server and personal computers. Huawei recently set up a subsidiary called Xfusion in the provincial capital Zhengzhou to grow businesses related to Kunpeng-based technologies, according to the people.
Separating the x86 business may give it more opportunity for growth. The Honor smartphone group said its split from Huawei enabled it to resume business ties with major suppliers because export restrictions doesnât apply to the company.
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