Lenovo Group plans to take Fujitsu 's personal computer operations under its wingto, as the Japanese company seeks to focus on higher-priority areas such as information technology services.
The two companies aim to reach a deal this month, according to Nikkei. One proposal would have the Fujitsu group transfer its PC design, development and manufacturing operations to a Lenovo-led joint venture. Another option involves Lenovo taking a majority stake in Fujitsu's PC subsidiary. About 2,000 Fujitsu employees likely would move under Lenovo's umbrella.
Japan accounts for a majority of the PC business for Fujitsu, and it ranks second in the country behind NEC Lenovo Japan Group, a joint venture between NEC and Lenovo formed in 2011.
Fujitsu, seeing substantial future growth as unlikely, spun off the business into a separate company in February. Talks broke down regarding a three-way merger with Toshiba's PC business and Vaio -- which was split off from Sony in 2014 -- leaving Fujitsu to seek other restructuring options.
A future merger with the NEC-Lenovo venture would not be out of the question.