Sony is reportedly in talks to buy a Japanese microchip production
line from Toshiba for an estimated 50 billion yen ($598 million) to
boost its output of chips for cameras and mobile phones, the Nikkei
newspaper said on Thursday.
Sony sold the facility to Toshiba in 2008 for 90 billion yen in 2008
as part of its "asset light" strategy.
Through the planned buy back of the production lines in southern
Japan's Nagasaki prefecture, the company aims to boost its output
capacity of image sensors used in digital cameras and cellphones,
Nikkei reported.
The Nikkei business daily said on Thursday the acquisition would
double Sony's image sensor output capacity to the equivalent of
40,000 silicon wafers a month. Sony still owns the factory the chip
line is housed in.
Sony released the following statement regarding the report:
"Certain media reports were published on December 23, 2010 about a
possible transaction between Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation
regarding semiconductors fabrication facilities. Sony has made no
announcement in this regard and has no comment."