Consumer electronics giant Sony is sharpening its focus on smartphones by looking to sell its PC operations to Japan Industrial Partners, an investment fund, for up to US$489m.
Under a deal, the fund will establish a new company to sell PCs under the Vaio brand, which Sony launched in 1996. The new company would also handle after-sales service, The Nikkei reported.
Sony would reportedly sell its PC business to this company for US$391m to US$489m, and take a small stake in the firm to facilitate the transfer.
The new entity would take on many of the 1,000 employees in Sony’s PC business, while other workers would be transferred to other departments within Sony.
Sony’s sale of its PC business will result in disposal losses and a net loss for the first time in two years for the year ending 31 March, The Nikkei reported. This loss would be contrary to the expected US$296m in profit.
Sony sign image via Shutterstock
