Panasonic, Fujitsu to form new chip design company

Panasonic and Fujitsu plan to integrate part of their operations to form an independent company to design and develop system LSI chips, in which both companies will own a share.

Fujitsu will own 40 percent of voting rights in the new firm, the same proportion as the state-owned Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), which will provide a maximum investment of 20 billion yen ($210 million) in equity capital and a maximum credit line of 10 billion yen for the new company.

Panasonic will own the remaining 20 percent.

The new company will be a fabless semiconductor manufacturer and will focus on product planning, marketing and development, with a view to launching an initial public offering within several years, the companies said in a statement.

The aim of the new venture is to reduce risks from plunging production amid economic slumps, the companies said.

A final agreement on the details of the deal is expected to be completed by the end of the current quarter, which finishes in June. Panasonic and Fujitsu said they had agreed to name Yasuo Nishiguchi, the former president of Kyocera, as CEO of the new company.

The new business is expected to employ 3000 people, and reach projected annual sales of 150 billion yen.