Meizu Technology Acquisition, Valuation, Funding & Investors

Meizu Technology was acquired by Geely Auto in January 2022.

Meizu Technology acquisition price

Undisclosed

Acquired by Geely Auto · Jan 2022

Meizu Technology revenue

$452M

Undisclosed stage · Feb 2015

Cumulative funding Meizu Technology raised

$890M

across 2 funding rounds

Key investors in Meizu Technology

Meizu Technology Overview

About Meizu Technology

Meizu Technology is a Zhuhai-headquartered smartphone manufacturer producing devices powered by the Flyme operating system. It distributes models such as the Meizu 21 series featuring under-display cameras and high-refresh-rate screens through company retail stores and online channels in China, Russia, India, and other markets. Established in 2003, it maintains development operations in Hong Kong and Israel.


Founded

2003

HQ

ChinaZhuhai

Website

meizu.com

Status

Acquired

Customer focus

B2C

Revenue model

Product sales

Revenue

$452M (Feb 2015)

Valuation

$3B (Feb 2015)

Meizu Technology Acquisition

Meizu Technology was acquired by Geely Auto for an undisclosed price on 24 January 2022.

Before the acquisition Meizu Technology had raised $890M across 2 funding rounds.

Meizu Technology, a Zhuhai-based Chinese smartphone maker founded in 2003, was acquired in a majority stake transaction by Hubei Xingji Shidai Technology, a Geely Auto Group founder's venture launched in 2021. Xingji Shidai purchased 79.09% of Meizu from founder Huang Xiuzhang (reducing his stake from ~49% to 9.8%) and Alibaba's Taobao China (exiting its 27% stake). The deal, announced in mid-2022 and completed around July 2022 after regulatory approval by China's State Administration for Market Regulation, positions Meizu as an independent brand under Geely's ecosystem. The strategic rationale centers on integrating Meizu's smartphone software expertise with Geely's automotive technologies, particularly for smart cockpits and in-car systems. Post-acquisition, Meizu launched Flyme Auto in October 2022 for seamless connectivity between mobile devices and Geely vehicles, aiming for a full-scene immersive experience similar to Huawei's HarmonyOS. This reflects broader industry convergence between phone makers and automakers amid China's competitive smartphone market, where Meizu's share had dwindled to 0.1% by 2021 with only 450,000 units sold. Meizu, once a prominent brand, has shifted focus beyond smartphones to wearables, AR glasses, tablets, and smart home products, planning 1,000 new offline stores over three years. Founder Jack Wong transitioned to product strategy advisor, while Geely leverages the acquisition to enhance its intelligent vehicle software capabilities and user ecosystem in the smart EV era.

Meizu Technology acquisition details
AcquirerDateType
24 Jan 2022Strategic M&A

Meizu Technology Valuation

Meizu Technology is currently valued at $3B, based on its undisclosed-stage round in February 2015.

The $590M round was led by Alibaba Group, with participation from Haitong Kaiyuan Investment.

Meizu Technology's valuation has moved from $3B at its Series A in July 2014 to $3B in February 2015, across 2 priced rounds.

Meizu Technology valuation by funding round

Revenue multiple
Meizu Technology valuation by funding round
DateStageValuationRevenue Multiple
Feb 2015Undisclosed stage$3B6.6x
Jul 2014Series A$3B-

Meizu Technology Revenue

Meizu Technology's latest recorded revenue is $452M, as of its undisclosed-stage round in February 2015. At a $3B valuation, that implies a 6.6x revenue multiple.

Meizu Technology revenue by funding round

Meizu Technology revenue and valuation multiple by funding round
DateRevenue *ValuationRevenue MultipleStage
Feb 2015$452M$3B6.6xUndisclosed stage

* Revenue (or ARR) figures are the values recorded alongside each funding round. Typically run-rate revenue at the time of the deal, or a reported LTM (last 12 months) revenue.

Meizu Technology Funding History

Meizu Technology has raised a total of $890M across 2 funding rounds.

Meizu Technology's first fundraising round was a $300M Series A in July 2014. The most recent completed round was a $590M undisclosed-stage round in February 2015.

Meizu Technology funding rounds

Meizu Technology funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedValuationDeal Summary
Feb 2015Undisclosed stageAlibaba Group (lead); Haitong Kaiyuan Investment$590M$3BMeizu Technology is a Guangdong/Shenzhen-based Chinese smartphone manufacturer founded in 2003, initially as a mobile music player producer before pivoting to Android-based smartphones in 2008 with an online sales model similar to Xiaomi. The company shipped 1.5 million phones in January 2015 but held only about 2% market share and was not yet among China's top five smartphone makers by sales volume. In early February 2015, Alibaba Group announced a $590 million investment for a minority stake, alongside strategic partnership involving integration of Meizu hardware with Alibaba's Yun OS (mobile operating system), e-commerce support, data analysis resources, and distribution through Alibaba's platforms like Taobao and T-Mall. This 2015 round followed Meizu's first funding in 2014 (around July), where it raised about $300 million from undisclosed backers at a valuation of more than $3 billion. The Alibaba investment aimed to bolster Alibaba's mobile strategy and ecosystem expansion amid its push into hardware partnerships, complementing prior deals in apps and gaming. Meizu's competition includes Apple, Xiaomi, and Huawei in China's massive smartphone market.
Jul 2014Series A-$300M$3BMeizu Technology Corporation, founded in 2003, initially launched as a mobile music player producer before releasing its first smartphone in 2008. The company developed Flyme, a customized Android operating system, and positioned itself with high-specification phones at comparatively lower prices than competitors like Apple and Samsung. In 2014, Meizu closed its first institutional funding round, raising approximately $300 million from undisclosed backers at a post-money valuation of more than $3 billion USD. This represented a significant milestone for the previously self-funded company, as founder J.W. announced plans to introduce external capital, establish a U.S.-based R&D center, and modify the shareholding structure. At the time of the round, Meizu shipped 1.5 million phones in January 2014 and was not yet among China's top five smartphone makers by sales volume. Following this initial round, Alibaba invested $590 million in Meizu in early 2014 as part of a strategic partnership, taking a minority stake while agreeing to integrate Meizu's hardware more fully with Alibaba's mobile operating system and distribute Meizu phones through Alibaba's sales channels. The investment catalyzed significant growth, with Meizu's shipments surpassing 20 million units by 2015, though the subsequent "sea of phones" strategy and market dynamics eventually led to the company's decline.

Who has invested in Meizu Technology?

2 investors have backed Meizu Technology across its funding rounds, including Alibaba Group and Haitong Kaiyuan Investment.

Lead investors include Alibaba Group.


Meizu Technology Investors

Investors in Meizu Technology by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check

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Meizu Technology Competitors

Meizu Technology competitors include listed companies like CASIO, LG Display, Acer and Foxconn Technology Co, and private ones like Royole Corporation and Razer.

Public and private companies comparable to Meizu Technology
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
Royole CorporationChinaShenzhenPrivate--$3B-
CASIOJapanJapanPublicly listed$1.8B$226M$3B1.3x
LG DisplaySouth KoreaSouth KoreaPublicly listed$19B$4B$3.1B0.7x
AcerTaiwanTaiwanPublicly listed$8.7B$315M$3.1B0.4x
Foxconn Technology CoTaiwanTaiwanPublicly listed$4.9B$120M$2.9B0.1x
RazerUnited StatesLos Angeles, CAPrivate$392M-$2B-

Meizu Technology Public Comps

Meizu Technology is no longer listed, but its public comps include CASIO, LG Display, Acer, Foxconn Technology Co, Stanley Electric, EZVIZ Network, UGREEN, Longcheer, Hengmingda and Yamaha.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
CASIO$1.8B$226M1.3x1.3x10.5x8.9x
LG Display$19B$4B0.7x0.7x3.2x3.6x
Acer$8.7B$315M0.5x0.4x13.1x15.2x
Foxconn Technology Co$4.9B$120M0.1x0.1x3.4x-
Stanley Electric$3.3B$610M1.0x0.9x5.4x5.6x
EZVIZ Network$880M$103M3.0x2.8x25.8x18.6x
UGREEN$1.4B$130M2.2x1.8x23.9x18.2x
Longcheer$6.3B$156M0.4x0.3x14.8x15.8x

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Common questions about Meizu Technology

When was Meizu Technology founded?Meizu Technology was founded in 2003.
Where is Meizu Technology headquartered?Meizu Technology is headquartered in Zhuhai, China.
Is Meizu Technology publicly listed?No, Meizu Technology was acquired by Geely Auto in January 2022.
Who acquired Meizu Technology?Meizu Technology was acquired by Geely Auto in January 2022.
What is Meizu Technology's valuation?Meizu Technology was last valued at $3B in its undisclosed-stage round in February 2015.
How much funding has Meizu Technology raised?Meizu Technology has raised $890M across 2 funding rounds.
What was Meizu Technology's last funding round?Meizu Technology's last funding round was a $590M undisclosed-stage round in February 2015, led by Alibaba Group.
Who are Meizu Technology's investors?Meizu Technology's investors include Haitong Kaiyuan Investment and Alibaba Group.
What is Meizu Technology's revenue?Meizu Technology's latest recorded revenue is $452M (February 2015).
What is Meizu Technology's revenue multiple?Meizu Technology's latest valuation implies a 6.6x revenue multiple ($3B valuation on $452M of revenue).
Which companies are comparable to Meizu Technology?Companies comparable to Meizu Technology include Royole Corporation, CASIO, LG Display, Acer, Foxconn Technology Co and Razer.

See companies similar to Meizu Technology

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