PANASONIC Looking To Acquire SANYO
With global economies gripped by recession fears two leading Japanese electronics companies are seeking a merger to combat the decline in demand for consumer electronics. Panasonic and Sanyo, both based in Osaka, are in preliminary talks to have Sanyo join Panasonic as a subsidiary and will disclose the details of the proposed merger in December.
The merger would create a consumer electronics giant with combined annual sales of $111.5 billion. Panasonic, the world’s largest makers of plasma televisions, would benefit in several areas with the acquisition of Sanyo with rechargeable batteries and solar cell technology being of greatest importance.
Currently Sanyo is the world’s largest maker of rechargeable batteries that are primarily used to power cell phones and laptop computers. Sanyo also has advanced research and development in the increasingly popular field of solar cell technology. With many companies looking at reusable energy sources to deal with rising fuel costs and finite oil reserves Sanyo presents Panasonic with the opportunity to enter the solar market and compete with other consumer electronic manufacturers in South Korea and China.
Sanyo is the world’s 7th largest manufacturer of solar cells with a 4.4% global market share. With a larger capital investment from Panasonic analysts say Sanyo could become the leader in solar cell technology. Sanyo also maintains a 40% global market share of lithium-ion batteries and combined with Panasonic the two would control nearly half the world market.
Panasonic is also interested in Sanyo’s lithium-ion batteries for automobiles that could be used with Panasonic’s leading fuel cell technology in the pursuit of eco-friendly car engines. Car manufacturing is another industry in dire economic straits and the combined technology of Panasonic and Sanyo could be a key factor in winning the the race to produce clean, environmentally safe automobiles.
Both companies say the recent downturn in the consumer electronics industry as a result of a worsening global recession has forced each to consider new options for staying competitive.
admin @ July 10, 2009
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