Sony and NEC agree on optical disc drive joint venture

Forbes reports Sony and NEC have made a definitive agreement on establishing a new joint venture called Sony NEC Optiarc, to seek business opportunities in the optical disc drive field

Sony and NEC will spin off their respective optical disc drive businesses on April 1 and transfer them to the joint venture, which is to be established on April 3.

Shinichi Yamamura, deputy president of the video business group of Sony, will become president of the new company.

The firm will be capitalized at 490 million yen, Sony will have 55 percent and NEC 45 percent.