FSC JV partners reportedly clash on price

Reports claim Fujitsu is unwilling to pay the amount requested by Siemens for its share in the FSC joint venture

Siemens are Fujitsu are locking horns over the amount the German company wants for its 50 per cent share in Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC), reports have claimed.

Rumours began circulating this summer that Siemens was getting cold feet about the joint venture and was considering walking away, (Channelweb, 18 July). If that was to happen, Fujitsu would have first refusal to buy the German firm out, otherwise it might be left looking for a new partner or a company that could take over the entire business.

News agency Reuters reported earlier today that it had learned from sources in Japan and Germany that Fujitsu has baulked at the amount Siemens wanted for its share of FSC. A Fujitsu source told Reuters: "We would like to continue with the business but only if the price is right."

A source close to Siemens claimed that there was a significant amount of interest in its share of FSC and the company was not under pressure to sell at any price. The firm is now reportedly in talks with Chinese vendor Lenovo, the source claimed, and other companies, possibly including Dell and Acer, had expressed an interest in buying into FSC. The current joint venture agreement runs out next year and will be automatically renewed for a further five years if neither Fujitsu nor Siemens pulls out before the end of this year.