Apple considers to join iPhone assembler Foxconn in its bid for Toshiba’s chip-making business. Apple might invest several billion dollars in order to buy a stake of at least 20 percent.
The Taiwanese company Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, participated in the first bidding round. Due to its ties with China, concerns were raised about a shift of Japanese technology to China and Taiwan. In Apple’s plan, Foxconn would own a 30 percent stake and Toshiba keeps a partial holding of 20 percent. This way, the business remains under Japanese and U.S. control.
Currently, Samsung Electronics is the biggest producer of memory chips, followed by Toshiba and SK Hynix. This would be Apple’s first investment in a major global chip-maker. With this investment, Apple would secure the supply of key components for its products.
Toshiba wants to sell its chip-making business in order to make up for the losses in its U.S. nuclear operations.
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