Sony to separate image sensor business

In the semiconductor business, where image sensors are a primary area of focus, Sony will establish Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation to further reinforce this business, and concentrate on sustained growth. R&D, business control, sales and other operations, which are currently overseen by business groups and R&D units within Sony Corporation, will be transferred to Sony Semiconductor Solutions. The new company is expected to commence operations on April 1, 2016. As part of its mid-term corporate strategy announced in February 2015, Sony outlined its intention to sequentially split out the business units currently within Sony Corporation and operate them alongside existing Sony Group companies. The aim of these measures is to ensure clearly attributable accountability and responsibility from the perspective of shareholders, management policies with an emphasis on sustainable profit generation, and the acceleration of decision-making processes and reinforcement of business competitiveness. The decision to establish Sony Semiconductor Solutions was part of this strategy, the company said. 

Terushi Shimizu, currently Deputy President, Device Solutions Business Group, Sony Corporation, is expected to be appointed President, Sony Semiconductor Solutions. Sony Semiconductor Corporation (President: Yasuhiro Ueda) and Sony LSI Design Inc. (President: Makoto Ishii), which cover Sony’s semiconductor manufacturing and design operations respectively, will become subsidiaries of Sony Semiconductor Solutions. 

In the battery business, Sony Energy Devices Corporation (President: Yoshito Ezure) will continue to engage in integrated business and manufacturing operations. It will remain focused on reinforcing business operations and enhancing product competitiveness, in order to maximize opportunities for expansion in the growing battery market, and enhance its ability to generate profit. 

In the storage media business, business functions currently located within Sony Corporation will be transferred to Sony Storage Media and Devices Corporation (President: Mitsunobu Saito), which currently engages in manufacturing. By integrating these business functions and manufacturing operations, the Company aims to ensure continued, stable profit generation. Sony also targets April 2016 for the completion of this transfer.