Hon Hai has broad support for its offer from Apple Inc, Softbank Group Corp and Sharp Corp and is ready to proceed right away, Hon Hai spokesman Louis Woo (胡國輝) said. “What this customer consortium means is that it will provide steady funds to Toshiba to advance their R&D [research and development]. The effort has been hampered by political opposition and litigation from partner Western Digital Corp.Japanese government officials have opposed selling the chip unit to Hon Hai because of the firm’s close ties to China. Hon Hai would hold 25 percent of the equity, Apple 20 percent, Kingston Technology Co 20 percent, Sharp 15 percent, Softbank 10 percent and Toshiba would keep 10 percent, he said. “We just hope the board directors of Toshiba will make [a] decision on commercial terms, on business terms, on technology terms, rather than political terms,” the spokesman said.

Source: Taipei Times September 07, 2017 15:56 UTC