Amid mounting criticism of the deal, <A HREF="http://www.cio.com/article/133752/Acer_CEO_Wang_Vows_to_Step_Down_if_Gateway_Deal_Fails">the chairman and CEO of Acer has vowed to step down</A> if the company's bid to join with Gateway does not succeed.

"The merger will definitely succeed. If it doesn't... I will resign," the Chinese-language newspaper, Economic Daily News, quoted Acer Chairman and CEO J.T. Wang as saying in an interview published Wednesday. Acer spokesman Henry Wang confirmed the statement.