Reports: Sony in talks to sell PC division

Rumours growing that Japanese vendor is also considering a withdrawal from overseas PC markets

Sony is in talks with an investment fund in Japan to sell its Vaio PC division according to reports.

An article on Reuters revealed it was told by a source close to Sony that investment fund Japan Industrial Partners would set up a new company to take over the Vaio brand’s business in Japan, and that the firm is also considering a withdrawal from other PC territories overseas.

Early estimates price the division at about £301m, with Sony still retaining a small stake in the new company.

The global PC market is not in the most robust health, due to the continuing onslaught of tablets and smartphones, according to analysts, with Gartner revealing recently that global PC shipments had dropped 6.9 per cent in Q4 of 2013, marking seven consecutive quarters of decline.

However conversely, market watcher Canalys said that the business PC market was bucking the general trend as firms continued their Windows XP migration plans.

And the rumour mill has not stopped there. Other reports are hinting that Chinese giant Lenovo is in talks about a possible joint venture to take over Sony’s PC business abroad.

Watch this space.