Sony plans to acquire Toshiba’s camera sensor division

Toshiba and Sony have confirmed rumors that Sony will acquire “certain parts” of Toshiba’s semiconductor business. It concerns Toshiba’s 300mm wafer production line, mainly focused on the production of cmos image sensors.

The two companies confirm “the intention” to transfer the entire production line in Oita, Japan, to Sony, including 1,100 employees. If there are no further bumps in the road, the agreement will be binding at the end of this year and the transfer will be fully completed in March 2016.

Toshiba’s business units in Oita will become part of the newly formed Sony Semiconductor Corporation. Sony announced in early October that the semiconductor division will become a separate business unit within the Sony Group.

Sony is the largest producer of image sensors in the world. In addition to Sony’s own cameras, Sony cmos sensors are in a large part of the camera modules for mobile phones and in the cameras of various brands.

The acquisition is worth about 20 billion yen, or 150 million euros. Toshiba has suffered greatly from an accounting scandal at the beginning of this year, forcing it to divest unprofitable businesses, including part of its semiconductor business. The 300mm production line makes memory controllers in addition to camera sensors.