Dutch computer chip maker NXP has registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to sell shares, a preliminary step towards a public offering, according to a statement published on Saturday.

NXP is the former chip-making arm of Philips. Philips sold an 80.1% stake in the company to a consortium of private investors led by KKR in 2006 for €4.3bn.
The company says it will use proceeds from the offering to cut debt.
In 2008, the company announced plans to cut its workforce by 4,500, including shedding 1,300 jobs in the Netherlands over two years.
According to the statement, it currently has 27,000 employees and booked sales of $3.8bn in 2009.