Siemens AG plans to pull out of its computer-making venture with Fujitsu Ltd., a move that may result in the sale or dismantling of Fujitsu Siemens Computers Holding BV, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified sources.
Siemens has informed its Japanese partner, which has the preferential right to buy the German company's 50 percent stake, the newspaper reported other sources as saying.
It's unclear whether Fujitsu is interested in buying the shares, according to the report. Fujitsu Siemens may be worth $4.65 billion, the Journal said, citing an unidentified banker.
No decisions have been made on the venture, whose contract is up for renewal next year, said Masahiro Yamane, a Tokyo-based spokesman at Fujitsu. Siemens Munich-based spokesman Marc Langendorf and Hong Kong-based spokeswoman Cynthia Yeung couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Siemens Chief Executive Officer Peter Loescher has been disappointed with the performance of Fujitsu Siemens amid competition with Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co., according to the Journal.