Sony Group and other existing shareholders will make additional investments in Rapidus, which plans domestic production of next-generation semiconductors, sources said on Friday.
The shareholders will act together with financial institutions and the central government so that the Tokyo-based chipmaker can secure the necessary funds to start mass production of the semiconductors as early as 2027.
Hoping to raise ยฅ100 billion from the private sector for the project, Rapidus asked its shareholders if they would make additional investments. The deadline for response was Friday.
In addition to Sony Group, NEC, NTT, Kioxia, MUFG Bank, Toyota Motor, SoftBank and Denso are all investing in Rapidus. Their investments together amounted to ยฅ7.3 billion.
Some of them, including Sony Group, NEC, NTT and MUFG Bank, are expected to make additional investments.
In the financial sector, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, Mizuho Bank and the government-linked Development Bank of Japan are also considering becoming new Rapidus shareholders. The expected investments from the three lenders plus MUFG Bank are expected to amount to ยฅ25 billion.
The expected investments by financial and non-financial companies will probably take place as early as 2025.
Rapidus will also call on non-financial companies other than existing shareholders to invest in the chipmaker.
A total of ยฅ5 trillion is considered necessary for Rapidus to mass-produce next-generation semiconductors, so the government is working on legislation to provide financial support for the project.
