China's Lenovo will recall more than 200,000 battery packs for laptop computers jointly produced with ailing Japanese electronics maker Sanyo, the two companies said Friday. Lenovo Group Ltd., one of the most global Chinese companies, downplayed any financial impact of the recall which came as it tries to develop its international brand recognition.

The world's third largest computer maker announced a voluntary global recall of 205,000 battery packs over concerns they could ignite on a strong physical impact, such as being dropped on the floor.

The lithium-ion extended-life battery packs, jointly designed by Lenovo and Sanyo and tested by Lenovo, can overheat and spark if dropped hard on to the ground, the two companies said. Four incidents were reported in the United States and one in Europe,.

Lenovo said it would replace the battery packs for free.

A Sanyo spokesman said that the cell of the battery produced by the Japanese company had no problem, but "there was a problem in the design of the battery pack jointly developed by Lenovo and Sanyo."

"The responsibility lies with both our companies since we jointly developed the battery packs," spokesman Akihiko Oiwa said.

The recall comes as Sanyo Electronic Co. is already struggling to reverse losses and accelerates a restructuring drive with thousands of job cuts.

Lenovo bought IBM's personal computer division in 2005, making it the world's third largest PC maker behind Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

The recall is for ThinkPad battery packs for the laptop series R60, R60e, T60, T60p, Z60m, Z61e, Z61m and Z61p series, Lenovo said.