SEOUL: Samsung Electronics said Sunday it had sold shares it held in four technology companies including US chipmaker Rambus and Japan’s Sharp to free up money and focus on its main business.
The South Korean tech giant also sold shares in Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASLM and US hard drive maker Seagate, it said in a statement.
Samsung — the world’s top smartphone maker which also manufactures memory chips, TVs and home appliances — has for years bought shares in other tech firms in semiconductor or display panel industries.
“It was aimed at focusing on our core business by efficiently managing the investments made in the past in line with changes in business environments,” Samsung said.
The news of the sales came as the firm is mired in a major recall of its flagship smartphone over a series of battery explosions.
The global recall of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone raised alarm among air carriers and aviation safety authorities worldwide that banned the device on flights.
