Japan's Toshiba is planning to expedite a deal for its flash memory unit by adding a clause to
the sales contract.
The struggling electronics firm has chosen a Japanese government-led consortium as its preferred bidder for the unit.
But Toshiba's US partner Western Digital says any deal without its consent is unacceptable.
Western Digital has filed a suit in the US seeking an injunction to block the sale. On Friday, the Superior Court of California held off on a decision.
Toshiba has little time, as it needs to complete the sale by the end of next March to rebuild its finances and avoid the delisting of its shares.
But a Japanese public-private fund that leads the consortium says its investment is conditional on Toshiba settling the dispute with its US partner.
Toshiba is now considering inserting a clause in the sales contract that would allow an extension of the deadline for a settlement until the end of the sale procedures.
Another factor that has been holding back a deal was the role of a South Korean chipmaker in the consortium.
Sources now say arrangements have been made so that the company will join the buyout by providing loans. That's in line with Japanese government wishes.
