Sony has today announced a joint-venture partnership with E Ink Holdings, the firm which makes the screens used in ebook readers, including Amazon’s Kindle and the Kobo range.
The two firms have a long relationship, with Sony’s own e-reader being one fo the first to use E Ink’s technology.
Both firms say the new partnership will be responsible for “planning, designing, developing, manufacturing, selling, distributing and licensing” products using the displays, as well as overseeing related applications and integration platform for system partners.
The JV is officially registered in Taiwan and has its Japan subsidiary registered in April. The company operation will be started soon after obtaining required regulatory approvals.
E Ink’s subsidiaries and Sony Semiconductor Solutions jointly invest approximately 70% of JV shares and are the major shareholders leading the JV’s business to success.
The remaining shares are subscribed by venture capital companies investing in rising startups. The paid in capital is NTD 420 million (New Taiwan Dollars).
The Board of directors of the JV includes directors assigned by E Ink and Sony. Terushi Shimizu, the Representative Director and the President of Sony Semiconductor Solutions, serve as the board member for the JV. Johnson Lee, the President of E Ink Holdings, is appointed to be the Chairman.
“E Ink is very excited to deepen this partnership with Sony through the JV and honored to have such an experienced board member to provide guidance to the JV”, said Johnson Lee, the President of E Ink Holdings.
“With the strong support and collaboration between E Ink and Sony, we believe the mutual efforts will lead the JV to a significant business growth,” said Terushi Shimizu.
“Sony has worked on ePaper technology with E Ink for over a decade.
‘Through this long-term partnership, we share the same vision with E Ink together to proliferate the use of ePaper.”