OSAKA (Kyodo) Panasonic Corp. will cut its equity stake in a hybrid-vehicle battery venture it jointly runs with Toyota Motor Corp. to expedite its takeover of Sanyo Electric Co., sources said Thursday.

Panasonic thinks the measure, aimed at slashing its share of the global nickel-hydrogen battery market, is needed for foreign antitrust authorities to sign off on the Sanyo takeover, the sources said.

Panasonic is expected to cut its stake in Panasonic EV Energy Co. from 40 percent to less than 20 percent, which will prompt its delisting from the equity method affiliate, the sources said.

The Shizuoka Prefecture-based joint venture, owned 60 percent by Toyota, makes batteries, including the nickel-hydrogen cells that power plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles.

China, due to complete its study of the Panasonic-Sanyo deal by next Tuesday, will likely give them the green light if Panasonic trims its investment in the battery venture, the sources said.

After it becomes certain the United States will also approve the plan, Panasonic will proceed to launch a tender offer for Sanyo shares.

In a related development, Sanyo said Wednesday it will sell two battery units — Sanyo Energy Twicell Co. and Sanyo Energy Tottori Co. — to FDK Corp., a unit of Fujitsu Ltd.