Fujitsu eyes Siemens stake

and

have announced that Fujitsu will acquire Siemens’ 50 per cent share in

for €450m (£363m).

The companies expect to close the transaction in April 2009, subject to approval from the relevant government agencies.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers was established in October 1999 as an equal joint venture based in Maarssen, the Netherlands. In 10 years, the company is said to have established a leading position in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market for IT infrastructure.

Joe Kaeser, chief financial officer at Siemens, said: ‘We continue to focus our company on the strategic sectors: industry, energy and healthcare.

‘We are happy that our joint-venture partner Fujitsu will acquire our stake in Fujitsu Siemens Computers and will take the company to its next level of success.’

Kuniaki Nozoe, president of Fujitsu, said: ‘Fully integrating Fujitsu Siemens Computers into the Fujitsu Group fits perfectly into our global growth strategy.

‘We’re inheriting a strong customer base in EMEA and a research and development capability that can support our global products development.’