HTC considering sale option: report

Troubled phone maker HTC, which ranked among the world's top smartphone makers at one time, is considering options ranging from separating its virtual-reality business to a full sale of the company, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported.

The Taiwanese company is working with an adviser as it looks for a strategic investor, selling its Vive virtual reality headset business or spinning off the unit, according to the people. HTC has been discussing with companies including Alphabet Inc's Google, said the people who asked not to be identified because the information is private.

According to one of the people, a full sale of HTC, which has businesses ranging from VR to handset manufacturing, is less likely as it is not an obvious fit for a single acquirer, according to one of the people.

Shares of HTC were up 4.7 per cent in Taipei yesterday to the highest close in over two weeks, giving the company a $1.9 billion market value. The company has shed about 75 per cent of its value over the past five years as its smartphone market fell below 2 per cent.