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Tatsuo Kobayashi
Mori3Tree
With this investment from the customers and government, Renesas is saved! so ...
Japan Inc. reportedly moves to block KKR’s Renesas takeover
Junko Yoshida
9/21/2012 2:37 PM EDT
NEW YORK -- A Japanese-led consortium is reportedly planning to rescue Renesas Electronics by blocking an attempt by the U.S. private equity firm KKR's to purchase the ailing chip company, Japan's economic journal Nikkei reported Friday (Sept. 21).
The new consortium includes Toyota Motor, Panasonic and a Japanese government-backed fund called the Innovation Network Corp. of Japan (INCJ). The group is reportedly looking to invest more than 100 billion yen (about $1.28 billion), Nikkei reported, with plans to acquire a majority stake in Renesas by the end of 2012.
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Consortium's members include key members of Japan’s automotive ecosystem, Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. along with Canon Inc. and Fanuc Corp. Other members include parts and components makers such as Denso Corp. and Keihin Corp. Nikkei also speculated that the consortium might invite Germany's Bosch and other foreign companies to join.
Japan's government appears to view the survival of Renesas as critical to the future of key industries such as automotive and industrial machinery. Still, it is highly doubtful that the chip maker could engineer a miraculous recovery, even if rescued by the industry consortium. Renesas previously failed to make drastic cuts and to orchestrate a major restructuring.
Nikkei reported: “In late August, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts proposed investing about 100 billion yen in Renesas. Major lenders were ready to accept at one point but are wary that microcontroller supplies could be disrupted if KKR pushes for significant additional restructuring.”
It also reported that KKR’s “tough demand” which includes seeking the removal of Renesas’ entire board, additional loans from the lenders and three shareholders, made the KKR’s offer “difficult to accept."
Under the INCJ's lead, the team is putting together an investment plan so that an alternative for rescuing Renesas can be presented to its shareholders, including NEC Corp., Hitachi Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp., as early as next month, Nikkei reported.
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Free Renesas from its golden cage called Japan
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Mori3Tree
9/23/2012 11:40 AM EDT
With this investment from the customers and government, Renesas is saved! so what kind of restructure will happen next? Without KKR intervention, do doubt that there will be big change. Economic is bad, we may see the next round of help soon.
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Tatsuo Kobayashi
9/26/2012 11:27 AM EDT
Junko,
This is what I had written in one of my comments earlier..."Although KKR deal is now discussed by parent companies and bankers of Renesas, I have my own doubts whether this deal will go through. National sentiments and other pressures that you have mentioned in your article will try their level best to ensure that a sick company remains on a death bed forever."
This is exactly what is happening now.
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