TOKYO, March 28 (Kyodo) — Renesas Electronics Corp. said Wednesday it will sell its plant in Goshogawara,Aomori Prefecture, at which it makes microcontrollers for automobiles, to heavy machinery manufacturerFuji Electric Co. on July 1 for 3.82 billion yen.
The Japanese semiconductor maker aims to improve its performance by consolidating its business bases, as the company expects to see a 57 billion yen net loss for the current business year ending Saturday.
Around 550 employees at the plant, operated by Renesas Northern Japan Semiconductor Inc., a Renesassubsidiary, will be taken over by Fuji Electric.
Renesas will continue to procure products from the plant even after the sale, it said.
Tokyo-based Fuji Electric plans to manufacture power semiconductors for automobiles at the plant, which will also function as a backup base in case of emergencies.
Renesas is also considering selling its Tsuruoka plant in Yamagata Prefecture, company sources said.