BEIJING, Aug. 2 (AP) -- Lenovo Group Ltd., the world's No. 3 personal computer maker, said Thursday its latest quarterly profits rose 12-fold as the Beijing-based company tried to establish itself as a global brand.

Profits were US$66.8 million (£á48.8 million) for the quarter ended June 30, up from US$5.2 million (£á3.8 million) in the year-earlier period, the company announced.

Lenovo launched a worldwide effort to improve efficiency and increase global market share after acquiring IBM Corp.'s personal computer unit in 2005.

"The group recorded strong growth in PC unit shipments in all the geographies," the company said in a statement.

Shipments in the United States and the rest of the Americas rose 15 percent following a turnaround by the previously struggling division in those markets, Lenovo said.

Lenovo dropped to fourth place in worldwide PC shipments in the first quarter of the year behind Taiwanese rival Acer Inc. It recovered its No. 3 ranking in the latest quarter, with 8 percent of the market, according to research firm Gartner Inc.