Sony and Toshiba sign definitive agreement to acquire sensor division

Sony acquires Toshiba’s camera sensor division. The companies previously signed an agreement, but now the acquisition is final. Sony pays 19 billion yen, about 142 million euros.

At the end of October, Sony and Toshiba announced that the acquisition, which had previously been rumored, would take place. Sony has now announced in a press release that the final papers have been signed. The companies are awaiting regulatory approval and aim to close the acquisition before the end of the fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2016.

Sony, which moved its semiconductor division into a separate industry in early October, is acquiring Toshiba’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities. It concerns a production line of 300 mm wafers, which can be used for the production of cmos sensors.

The acquisition will further enhance Sony’s leading position in the image sensor market. Sony has more than 40 percent of the market, according to the Wall Street Journal. Sony CMOS sensors are not only found in the brand’s own cameras. Many other camera manufacturers, including Canon and Nikon, also use Sony sensors in some models. In addition, the Sony chips can be found in many smartphones, including the iPhones.