"The AI boom isn't just lifting chipmakers and Big Tech. In Japan, it's flushing gains into a toilet manufacturer and a seasoning giant. As demand for AI chips surges, investors are piling into companies that sit inside the semiconductor supply chain - even if they're better known for bathrooms and soup stock. Toilet maker Toto, famous for its high-tech bidets and heated seats, has drawn investor attention. The company makes electrostatic chucks, which are critical components used in the production of NAND memory chips."
"It's not just Toto. Japanese food giant Ajinomoto, better known for its umami seasonings and soup bases, has become an unlikely AI infrastructure play. The company produces an insulating material used in advanced semiconductor packaging. Ajinomoto's latest financials point to strength beyond its core food business. For the nine months ended December, the company reported an 8.9% rise in net profit, while operating profit increased 5.6% year-on-year."
Rising AI demand has increased need for advanced memory chips and semiconductor packaging materials. Toto, known for bidets and heated seats, manufactures electrostatic chucks used in NAND memory chip production, drawing investor interest and a stake from activist Palliser Capital. Toto's stock rose after the investor pushed the company to emphasize its chip-parts business. Ajinomoto, known for seasonings and soup bases, produces insulating materials used in advanced semiconductor packaging. Ajinomoto's nine-month results showed an 8.9% net profit increase and a 5.6% rise in operating profit, partly driven by electronic materials in its Healthcare and Others segment.
Read at Business Insider
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