The chip industry has taken a beating. 
Toshiba reduced its projected operating profit for the entire year.
 Japanese banks are hesitant to provide funding for a buyout deal.

The demand for smartphones and personal computers is declining as a result of dramatically greater inflation in many economies, which has had a negative impact on the semiconductor industry.

Following a 75% decline in second-quarter profit, Toshiba reduced its outlook for operating profit for the entire year on Friday. These poor results increase the uncertainty surrounding Toshiba's prospects for a buyout deal.

The Japanese industrial giant claimed that a number of issues, including a decline in the hard disc drive market and an assessment loss on a decline in Toshiba's printer unit's share prices, were hurting its earnings.

It decreased its profit prediction by about a quarter to JPY 125 billion for the fiscal year ending in March (roughly Rs. 7,240 crore). Kioxia Holdings, a manufacturer of memory chips that Toshiba owns to a degree of around 40%, has also declared it will reduce production by roughly 30% from October.

As demand for cellphones and personal computers declines as a result of dramatically rising inflation in many nations, geopolitical unrest, and COVID-19 lockdowns in China, the chip market has been severely impacted.

Toshiba reported a quarterly operational profit of JPY 7.5 billion for the period from July to September (roughly Rs. 430 crore). That was well below the JPY 36.9 billion (approximately Rs. 2,140 crore) Refinitiv consensus forecast from four experts.

Given that Japanese banks, according to sources, are hesitant to finance a buyout deal, the conglomerate's prospective buyers may be affected by the weak earnings outlook.

The Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday that a consortium led by the private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) submitted a bid to acquire Toshiba for about $15 billion (roughly Rs. 1,21,280 crore), which raises doubts about the offer's viability.

Japan Investment Corp (JIC), a state-backed fund, is also putting up a proposal. According to insiders, the fund has been in discussions to form a separate consortium with the US private equity fund Bain Capital and the north Asian fund MBK Partners.

JIP and JIC have opted not to respond. The selling process is in a 'essential phase,' but Toshiba's chief financial officer Masayoshi Hirata declined to comment on the specifics of it.