갑작스러운 계약파기의 배경에는 삼성전자가 진행하고 있는 모바일 무선충전사업과 삼성전기가 독자적으로 진행하는 무선충전사업이 겹치면서 생긴 내부 갈등 때문일 것이라는 추측이 있다. 그러나 삼성전기의 한 관계자는 BeCom사와 사업을 진행한 초기에 “삼성 로고는 삼성 계열사가 직접 판매 할 때에만 부착을 할 수 있다”는 내부 규정을 꼼꼼히 따져 보지 못해서 생긴 일이라며 그룹 계열사간의 갈등 가능성을 일축했다.
한편, BeCom사는 이번 계약 파기로 인해 발생한 피해액에 대한 충분한 보상이 있지 않는다면 법적대응도 불사하겠다는 입장이다.
BeCom사가 주장하는 피해 보상액은 약 460억원이다. 여기에는 디자인에서 제조까지 사용된 유형, 무형 자산에 대한 비용과 함께 해당 사업으로 인해 발생한 기회비용까지 포함한다는 것이 BeCom사의 입장이다. 또한 BeCom사는 삼성전기와의 사업을 위해 14개의 국내, 해외 제조사, 영업, 판매 회사들과 협력하고 있었고, 460억 수치는 이 회사들이 입은 피해액도 포함한다.
BeCom사는 지난 7월 이후 삼성전기와 삼성미래전략실 앞으로 손해배상 청구 내용증명을 두 차례 발송했지만 삼성 측의 별다른 답변을 받지 못한 상태다.
삼성전기 관계자는 “해당 업체가 입은 피해에 대한 책임은 인정하지만, 해당 업체가 요구하는 배상액과 삼성전기가 제시한 배상액의 차이가 커 합의가 이루어지지 않고 있는 상황”이라며 “계속해서 합의점을 찾기 위해 노력하겠다,”고 말했다.
<관련영문기사>
Samsung to face litigation from suppliersDozens of Korean and foreign suppliers of Samsung Electro-Mechanics are seeking legal action against the electronics parts manufacturing unit of Samsung Group for its alleged mishandling of production contracts.
BeCom, a local manufacturer, said Tuesday that the company, together with its 14 subcontractors in Korea and overseas, were suffering from combined financial losses of 46 billion won ($39 million) due to Samsung’s unilateral breach of contract.
In June, BeCom inked a deal with Samsung Electro-Mechanics to supply wireless charging pads for Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S6. Under the deal, the supplier was also in charge of selling and marketing the products on behalf of Samsung.
After the first batch of 22,000 sample products were shipped, however, Samsung requested BeCom not to use its brand logo on the finished products.
“Without the Samsung logo, it would be extremely difficult to find customers even though the products are made solely for Samsung phones,” said a BeCom official. “We have asked for adequate compensation but no clear answer has been given.”
He added the suppliers were considering filing a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong depending on the compensation talks.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics admitted its responsibility for causing damage to its partners and claimed the company had tried to compensate them but failed to reach an agreement on the amount.
“We didn’t fully recognize corporate rules that allow products directly sold by Samsung only to carry the Samsung logo,” said a company official. “We tried to change contract terms based on the rules but the partners refused to do so.”
Industry sources said the recent feud could have stemmed from the internal conflict between Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Samsung Electronics over leadership in the group’s new wireless charging business.
The two Samsung units are respectively producing wireless charging pads working compatibly with the Galaxy S6 lineup.
“Even though Samsung Electro-Mechanics secured related technologies first, the initiative seems to be shifting toward Samsung Electronics, the group’s crown jewel, as the business is gaining attention,” said an industry source on condition of anonymity.
“Their overlapped productions are also not inefficient. There is more room for disputes.”
Asked about this internal conflict, however, the Samsung Electro-Mechanics official flatly denied it, saying the two firms were still running their own businesses separately and seeking expansion.
“We will continue to try to reach an agreement with the partner firms,” he added.
By Kim Young-won(
wone0102@heradlcorp.com)
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