Japanese chipmaker Rohm considering joining JIP for Toshiba buyout

Japanese chipmaker Rohm said it was considering joining a consortium led by private equity fund Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) to buy out Toshiba Corp, as JIP works to consolidate its proposal.

The Nikkei newspaper reported that Kyoto-based Rohm planned to invest up to about 300 billion yen ($2.14 billion) in the proposed 2.2 trillion yen acquisition of Toshiba, citing multiple sources it did not name.

A Rohm spokesperson confirmed that the company was considering joining the JIP consortium for the buyout but added that nothing had been decided, including the amount of any investment.

Get the week’s top news delivered directly to your inbox – Sign up for our newsletter

Rohm and Toshiba are both major manufacturers of power management chips, which efficiently control electric power in cars, electronic devices and industrial equipment. It’s an area where Japan still holds strengths despite its shrinking presence in the global chip industry.

JIP has contacted several Japanese companies to join the bid for Toshiba, including utility Chubu Electric Power Co Inc (9502.T) and financial services group Orix Corp, sources familiar with the matter have said.

The Nikkei also reported that automaker Suzuki Motor Corp (7269.T) planned to invest some tens of billions of yen in the proposed deal, while construction firm Taisei Corp also intended to take part, though the size of its proposed investment was unknown.

Source: Reuters

Can’t stop reading? Read more