Japan's Elpida to file for bankruptcy protection

Japan's Elpida Memory is to file for bankruptcy protection, reports said, days after one of the world's biggest microchip makers admitted it was struggling to solve debt problems. Elpida made the decision after talks with its main creditors and Japan's industry ministry failed to reach agreement on fresh loans, public broadcaster NHK and newswires Jiji Press and Kyodo News reported on Monday. Elpida is the world's third-largest maker of the dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips used in mobile phones and other personal electronics, but the punishingly high yen and fierce competition have made life difficult. Elpida reportedly sought a tie-up with Micron Technology of the United States and Taiwan's Nanya Technology. The firm said earlier this month it has been in talks with "relevant parties" to solve its debt problems, which it said had not moved forward as smoothly as it expected.