February 8, 2005 – Fujitsu Ltd. said Monday it has agreed to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary Fujitsu VLSI’s semiconductor and liquid crystal display production equipment business to ULVAC Inc. on April 1, according to Kyodo News International.
Some 80 manufacturing workers at Fujitsu VLSI’s plant in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, are expected to be transferred to ULVAC, according to Fujitsu officials. Following the deal, whose price has yet to be decided, Fujitsu LVSI will focus management resources on designing and development of semiconductor circuits.
Fujitsu decided to sell the business amid intensifying competition in the global market for LCDs and other flat-panel displays. In a related development, Fujitsu said it will sell its LCD business for personal computers to Sharp Corp.
Fujitsu has already decided to effectively withdraw from production of plasma displays.