The amount includes the likely cost of purchasing Toshiba Corp.'s chip manufacturing line in Nagasaki Prefecture, western Japan, Sony said. The two companies announced the deal Friday without disclosing the price of the acquisition.
Sony, which controls about 70% of the market for image sensors used in digital cameras, said it plans to convert the Toshiba line to produce sensors and also aims to refurbish one of its existing lines.
Digital imaging has been a bright spot for Sony's electronics business, helped by new models such as its NEX series of compact digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. Sony is targeting shipments of about 23 million digital cameras in the current fiscal year to March 2011, a 9.5% increase from the previous year.
The company is looking to meet particularly strong demand for its Exmor and Exmor R sensors used in smartphones and digital-still cameras. The Exmor R has sold well due to rising interest for cameras capable of shooting in low light.
Together with Sony's plan to increase production at its existing plant at Kumamoto Prefecture near the Nagasaki plant, the latest outlays will help boost the company's image sensor production capacity to 50,000 wafers a month by March 2012, from the current 25,000.
The plan also highlights Sony's divergent strategies toward its various consumer electronics businesses. Although it is focused on keeping its profitable digital-camera business in-house, the company has decided to sell production facilities and increase outsourcing in its struggling television operations.
To fund part of the new investment, Sony said it plans to take advantage of government subsidies aimed at encouraging companies to invest in environmentally friendly businesses.
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