The Japanese electronics giant Sony finalized Monday the sale of its rechargeable lithium-ion battery business to its compatriot Murata, a transaction signed on October 31. This sale results in an exceptional depreciation, indicates the group which downgraded its estimate of annual net profit.
The abandonment of this activity closes four decades of history within Sony. It is accompanied by the need to record a capital loss which reduces its forecast for net profit to 60 billion yen (525 million euros) instead of 80 billion. That of operating profit is downgraded to 270 billion yen instead of 300 billion, but the turnover estimate is kept at 7.400 billion yen.
After a first announcement at the end of July, Sony clarified that it signed today the final contract for the sale to Murata of its battery activities which include a subsidiary in Japan, Sony Energy Devices, sites in China and Singapore as well as R&D facilities. and sale in the archipelago. Everything will be ceded for 17,5 billion yen (150 million euros).
The whole concerns about 8.500 employees who will be transferred to Murata, a specialist in electronic components known in particular for its gyrosensors. This Sony battery business would total an annual turnover of around 160 billion yen (1,4 billion euros), according to data presented some time ago by the economic news group Nikkei. On the other hand, products such as USB batteries for recharging a mobile phone at any time, alkaline batteries and button cells are excluded from the sale, the group said.
Sony was a pioneer in the world of rechargeable batteries, where it entered in 1975. It was the first to offer lithium-ion models in the early 1990s, a period during which it conducted extensive research, particularly with the manufacturer. of Nissan automobiles.
The merger of Sony battery activities with those of his compatriot NEC and Nissan was mentioned a few years ago. Sony, however, had put aside this automotive outlet in favor of batteries for electronic products, its main area of expertise.
2016 © AFP
