Fujifilm weighs up buying Hitachi's medical equipment business

TOKYO (Reuters) - Fujifilm Holdings Corp <4901.T> said on Tuesday it is considering buying Hitachi Ltd's <6501.T> diagnostic imaging business, as the Japanese photocopier and camera manufacturer aims to build up its medical business.

Fujifilm has been expanding into healthcare, having recently bought a drugmaking business from U.S.-based Biogen Inc and two biotechnology units from compatriot JXTG Holdings Inc <5020.T>, as growth at its legacy photocopy business stagnates.

The value of the deal would be around 170 billion yen ($1.56 billion), a source said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

A Fujifilm spokeswoman, speaking after the Nikkei business daily first reported the plan, said it is true that the company is considering the acquisition and the company will make a disclosure when decided.

Hitachi has been reorganising its business, selling non-core assets while buying foreign businesses to expand digital businesses.

Hitachi said in a statement that the company is considering various options to raise its corporate value, but there is nothing to disclose at this point.

($1 = 108.6400 yen)

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Noriyuki Hirata, editing by Louise Heavens)