Resonac Holdings in Japan is seeking to pursue new deals following a reduction in borrowing and aims to participate in the state-backed fund's exit from JSR, as stated by the CEO of the chip materials manufacturer, Hidehito Takahashi. Referring to their strategic plans, Takahashi mentioned to Reuters that "We will go on the offensive from this year."
Formed through Showa Denko's acquisition of Hitachi Chemical, Resonac has been divesting assets and is planning to partially spin off its petrochemical business.
Having expressed interest in the consolidation within the industry, JSR, a photoresist maker, was privatized by a state-backed fund last year with an anticipated eventual exit, which Takahashi looks forward to being a part of.
Despite Japan's diminished role in chip manufacturing, the nation harbors numerous prominent makers of semiconductor materials and equipment, as Takahashi pointed out, stressing that companies require scale for substantial investments in capital and research and development due to the limited market for individual materials.
To bolster collaboration with companies in Silicon Valley, Resonac is establishing an R&D center for advanced semiconductor packaging and materials. Currently, the company does not have plans to manufacture materials in the United States, but Takahashi mentioned that Resonac would consider potential subsidies, tariffs, and customer demands in the U.S. before making a decision.