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Sony looks to exit the PC game

According to multiple sources Sony is on the verge of announcing the sale of its Vaio PC business to a Japanese investment fund effectively ending its involvement in the PC industry.

According to a report from Nikkei Asian Review Sony is already engaged in talks with investment fund, Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), in an effort to offload the Vaio business to focus on the more lucrative smartphone market. JIP would then set up a new company which would carry on using the Vaio brand in Japan while withdrawing completely from international markets.

The estimated selling price is somewhere in the region of 40 billion yen to 50 billion yen (between R4.4 and R5.5 billion) with Sony retaining a small stake in the business even after the sale. Sony was never a major player in the PC segment and according to IDC, only made up 1.9% of the market between January and September last year.

Over the past year Sony’s focus seems to have shifted towards TVs, including the new Ultra High Definition standard, its PlayStation gaming platform, its Alpha range of digital cameras and  the Xperia brand of smartphones. Notebooks have been kept to the sidelines with no major announcements having been made at CES last month, where Sony’s other products were very visible.

Sony released a press statement yesterday that was very specific about not denying the rumours but rather biding its time to see whether a deal was to be struck:

“TOKYO, February 5, 2014 — Press reports on February 4-5, 2014 stated that Sony Corporation (“Sony”) is discussing with Japan Industrial Partners Inc. (JIP) to establish a new company for Sony’s PC business in Japan. Sony has made no announcement in this regard. As Sony has announced previously, Sony continues to address various options for the PC business, but Sony has no further comments.”

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