Toshiba delisting marks end of an era for Japanese tech giant
December 20, 2023397 views0 comments
Business a.m
Toshiba has been delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange,a move that signals the end of an era for the Japanese company renowned for its dominance in the electronics market during the 20th century.
The company had been listed on the exchange for 74 years, but was delisted after a long period of financial turmoil. The decade-long period of upheaval and scandal had a significant impact on the company, culminating in a buyout and an uncertain future.
In a move to return Toshiba to domestic ownership, a consortium of investors led by Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has taken the company private. The consortium includes financial services firm Orix, utility company Chubu Electric Power, and chipmaker Rohm.
This comes after a long battle with international activist investors, who had been pressuring Toshiba to sell off its assets and increase profits. The activists’ efforts were largely unsuccessful, and they ultimately lost control of the company to the domestic investors. The new owners now face the challenge of turning around Toshiba’s fortunes and restoring its reputation.
In a statement released by the company, Toshiba expressed gratitude for the support of its stakeholders and stated that the delisting was a major step towards a new future. The statement went on to say that Toshiba appreciated the continued understanding and support of its stakeholders.
Toshiba’s shares closed at 4,590 yen on Tuesday, the day before the delisting, with only a slight decrease of 0.1% from the previous day. However, it is worth noting that the company’s stock had already lost value over the past few years, in large part due to the financial troubles and scandals that plagued the company.
While the future of Toshiba under its new owners is still uncertain, it is likely that the company will focus on high-margin digital services. This is based on the comments of the company’s Chief Executive, Taro Shimada, who has indicated that the company will shift its focus towards digital services.
The delisting of Toshiba from the Tokyo Stock Exchange is of particular importance to the Japanese government, given the company’s role in national security and its large workforce. With over 106,000 employees, Toshiba is a major employer and a significant contributor to the Japanese economy.
In light of this, the government will be closely monitoring the situation as the new owners take control. The board will include four executives from JIP, as well as representatives from the other investors, Orix and Chubu Electric. In addition, a senior advisor from Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group will join the team.