Western Digital has offered to buy Toshiba Memory for 1.6 trillion yen, far lower than some 2 trillion yen that the struggling parent aims to raise through the sale of the memory unit.

But the U.S. firm, Toshiba's memory business partner and is at odds with the struggling Japanese electronics giant over the chip unit sale, now examines the option of providing Toshiba with funds through purchases of not equities but corporate bonds and joining the Japan-U.S. team of bidders to raise the acquisition price, the sources said.

The new plan can ease Toshiba's concern over prolonged screenings by antimonopoly authorities, they added. (Jiji Press)