Acer

Founded
1976
Founder
Stan Shih et al.
Headquarters
Taipei, Taiwan
Industry
Computer
Products
Laptops, Desktop Computers, IT services
Subsidiaries
Acer Computer Australia, Acer India, Acer America Corporation

Website
www.acer.com

Acer (LSE: ACID) is a Taiwan-based company which by 2004 had grown to be one of the world's top five branded PC vendors. It owns the second largest computer retail chain in Taiwan, Acerland, second only to Asus. Acer's product offering includes desktop and mobile PCs (laptops), servers and storage, displays, peripherals, and e-business solutions for business, government, education, and home users.

Multitech, which was founded by Stan Shih (施振榮) and other six people in 1976, was renamed Acer in 1987. The global headquarters is in Hsichih City, Taipei County, Taiwan. In 2002, the pan Acer Group employed 39,000 people supporting dealers and distributors in more than 100 countries. Revenues reached US $12.9 billion that year. In 2000, Acer spun-off its manufacturing operation (as Wistron Corporation) to focus itself on branding business. In deciding to support the sales of its product lines through specific marketing activities that best utilise distribution channels, Acer grew worldwide while its labour force contracted. By 2005, Acer employed 7,800 people throughout the world while maintaining a global sales and service network. Revenues were US$4.9 billion in 2003[1] and US$7 billion in 2004. Acer's North American market share has slipped over the past few years while the European market share has gone up. Much of their success in Europe can be attributed to their ongoing association with the Ferrari Formula 1 Team and the former F1 team, Prost Grand Prix in 2001. They have recently broadened the scope of their relationship with Ferrari by announcing they will sponsor the Formula One team until 2008.