TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Toshiba Corp. says it is carefully considering a preliminary acquisition proposal. Trading in Toshiba’s stock was halted Wednesday after the technology conglomerate confirmed it had received the proposal. The Nikkei financial newspaper reported CVC Capital Partners was looking into acquiring the company for $18 billion. The private equity company declined to comment. Toshiba was long revered as one of Japan’s most respected brands but has been mired in ethical questions and scandals in recent years. It acknowledged in 2015 it had been systematically falsifying its books as managers tried to meet overly ambitious targets. And the costs of its nuclear power business ballooned after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
