Sony announces plan to acquire Toshiba’s image sensor facilities

Sony Corporation has announced that it will acquire certain facilities owned by Toshiba used for the fabrication of CMOS image sensors.

Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation have entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding that confirms Sony’s intent to acquire certain semiconductor fabrication facilities, equipment and related assets owned by Toshiba.

Toshiba’s 300mm wafer production line is located in Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, and is used to produce CMOS image sensors and memory controllers. Sony plans to operate the site as a production facility of Sony Semiconductor Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony, primarily for manufacturing CMOS image sensors.

Sony’s acquisition of the said facilities will enable the company to increase its production capabilities in the area of CMOS image sensors, where further market growth is anticipated.

source: Sony