ASUS has traditionally been associated with personal computers, but with the PC market constantly shrinking, the company has been trying to expand into the mobile market in order to ensure it remains successful even after the PC market is more or less dead. While things have been going surprisingly well for ASUS so far, it could still use a boost, and some recent rumors have suggested that the boost could come in the form of an acquisition, possibly of HTC. However, HTC has vehemently denied these rumors, and the struggling smartphone manufacturer has made it clear that it would refuse any such offer from ASUS. 

Perennially struggling smartphone maker HTC has poured cold water on suggestions that it is an acquisition target for fellow Taiwanese tech firm Asus. Asus chairman Jonney Shih made headlines at the company’s shareholder meeting on Friday when he did not refute a suggestion that his company might buy HTC. Asus subsequently clarified that there has been no formal bid put forward, but the rumor was enough for HTC to come out with its own denial. “We strongly deny the news. We didn’t contact Asusteck and will not consider the acquisition. As an international brand, HTC will continue to design world-class innovative smart devices through its pursuit of brilliance brand promise,” HTC said in a statement. HTC’s business has struggled over the past couple of years, with revenue and profits tumbling despite the Taiwanese company producing some of the best Android devices on the market — including the HTC One in 2013 and HTC One M8 last year. This year’s M9 model is much like its predecessors and, since they hardly sold like touch screen hotcakes, many industry watchers don’t see things turning around anytime soon for HTC.