LM Ericsson and Sony Corporation announced on Thursday they will go separate ways as Ericsson sells its 50 per cent stake in mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson to Sony for $1.46 billion.
Sony Ericsson will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony and integrated into Sony’s broad platform of network-connected consumer electronics products, the Japanese company and Swedish wireless equipment firm said.
The transaction gives Sony an opportunity to quickly integrate smart phones into its portfolio of network-connected consumer electronics device, such as tablets, televisions and personal computers, the companies said.
The move was widely anticipated by analysts, who have argued Sony Ericsson could become more competitive in the tough smart phone market under sole Sony ownership.
“I believe this improves the outlook for Sony Ericsson, because Sony can take full responsibility for the company and use the unique things that they have,” said Greger Johansson, an analyst with research firm Redeye. “The opportunity to integrate the phones with their other products improves.”
Mr. Johansson said the smart phone market is “extremely tough” and Sony Ericsson’s competitors are also developing quickly.
He said the price Ericsson received wasn’t great, but it will be a relief for the Swedish company to be able to focus on its core wireless equipment business and offload the mobile phone maker that has taken up a lot of management time.
“Sony Ericsson has no strategic value for Ericsson anymore,” added Helena Nordman-Knutson, an analyst with Ohman Fondkommission in Stockholm.
Ericsson and Sony combined their unprofitable handset ventures into the joint venture Sony Ericsson in 2001 and enjoyed some early successes with its Walkman and Cyber-shot phones.
In recent years it has suffered from the competitive climate in the smart phone market and earlier this month the company posted a break-even third quarter result.
The company adopted Google’s Android operating system for its smart phones in 2008, and has said it now controls about 11 per cent of the Android-based smart phone market. Its Android-based Xperia smart phones account for more than 80 per cent of its sales.
Thursday’s deal will provide Sony with an intellectual property cross-licensing agreement, covering all products and services of Sony as well as ownership of five essential patent families relating to wireless handset technology.
“We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment,” Sony CEO, Sir Howard Stringer said, adding this includes Sony’s own network services, the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network.
Sir Stringer said the acquisition will also afford Sony operational efficiencies in engineering, network development and marketing.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, but has been approved by appropriate decision-making bodies of both companies.
Ericsson said the shift in the mobile market, from simple mobile phones to smart phones that include access to internet services and content, means the synergies for the company in having both a telecoms services portfolio and a handset operation have decreased.
“Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices,” said Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg.
Ericsson said it will now focus on the global wireless market as a whole and how wireless connectivity can benefit people, business and society beyond just phones.
Ericsson and Sony will also set up a wireless connectivity initiative aimed at driving and developing the market’s adoption of connectivity across multiple platforms, they said.
The agreement is expected to close in January 2012.
