TOKYO--Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu Ltd. (6702.TO) is
talking to United Microelectronics Corp. (2303.TW) of Taiwan about
forming a joint venture to operate one of its semiconductor plants
in Japan, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.
As part of a restructuring of its chipmaking operations amid
sharp falls in demand in recent years, Fujitsu is also considering
a partnership with ON Semiconductor Corp. (ONNN) of the U.S. on a
possible sale of a second Japanese plant, according to local media
reports in Japan.
Fujitsu said in a statement Friday that it was "considering
various options, including business partnerships with other
companies, but there have been no specific decisions made at this
time."
The person familiar with the situation said the talks between
Fujitsu and UMC, involving the first plant, in Mie prefecture, were
at least several weeks from completion. The companies are
discussing a partnership in which UMC would at first hold a
minority stake, with the Taiwanese company increasing its ownership
over time.
The second plant is in Fukushima prefecture. Last year, one of
the production lines there was converted to a new business--growing
lettuce in a clean room once reserved for semiconductor
manufacturing.
Write to Eric Pfanner at eric.pfanner@@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires