On December 13, 2019, HOYA Corporation announced that it would make a US$1.4 billion counter-bid for NuFlare Technology, Inc. in what could become a hostile offer for the Toshiba unit. HOYA Corporation stated that its interest in the manufacturer of chip-making equipment further complicates a deal already being challenged by Yoshiaki Murakami. HOYA Corporation stated that it wants to buy at least two-thirds of the Company, meaning it would need Toshiba to sell at least part of its stake for the deal to go through.