Sony Battery Business
2017
$175M
Why
Murata agreed in October 2016 to acquire Sony's battery business, including Sony Energy Devices Corporation and related manufacturing operations in China and Singapore, for about 17.5 billion yen, completing the transaction in September 2017 and bringing roughly 8,500 Sony Group employees into Murata.
Impact
The acquisition gave Murata established lithium-ion battery manufacturing capability and Sony's existing customer relationships, diversifying the company beyond passive components and RF modules into energy-storage devices at a time when demand for compact batteries in mobile devices and, later, electric vehicles was accelerating. Both acquisitions reflect Murata's broader strategy of buying targeted technology and manufacturing capability rather than pursuing large horizontal mergers, preserving the specialized engineering culture that has defined the company since its founding.
Outcome
The battery business became part of Murata's push into automotive and industrial power applications, complementing the company's broader Vision 2030 strategy of expanding beyond consumer electronics into e-mobility and IT infrastructure markets.