By Makiko Yamazaki
TOKYO (Reuters) – Toshiba said on Thursday that a $14 billion tender offer from private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) had ended in success – a deal which paves the way for the embattled industrial conglomerate to go private.
The JIP-led consortium saw 78.65% of Toshiba shares tendered, giving the group a majority of more than two thirds which would be enough to squeeze out remaining shareholders.
The deal puts the electronics-to-power stations maker in domestic hands after years of battles with overseas activist shareholders.
Toshiba in March accepted the buyout offer valuing the industrial conglomerate at 2 trillion yen ($13.5 billion). Although some shareholders were unhappy with the price offered, Toshiba argued that there was no prospect of a higher offer or competing bid.
“We are deeply grateful to many of our shareholders for being understanding of the company’s position,” Toshiba Chief Executive Taro Shimada said in a statement on Thursday. Toshiba “will now take a major step toward a new future with a new shareholder,” he added.
Toshiba has said its complex relationships with various stakeholders, including shareholders with different opinions, have hampered business operations and that a stable shareholder base would help the company pursue its long-term strategy.
Although not well known overseas, JIP has been involved in corporate carve outs and spin offs from Japanese conglomerates, including Olympus’ camera business and Sony Group’s laptop computer business.
JIP plans to retain CEO Shimada and his management team.
Since 2015, Toshiba has been battered by accounting scandals, suffered heavy losses and also came close to being delisted. It has also been engulfed in a series of corporate governance scandals.
JIP’s consortium includes 20 Japanese companies, led by chipmaker Rohm, financial services firm Orix and Chubu Electric Power.
($1 = 148.3000 yen)
(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Edwina Gibbs)
