Reinventing the Millennium

Yike and Sony have always had competition and cooperation, but their relationship has always been good.

When they were most intimate, the heads of the two companies were members of each other's boards of directors. Even if Stringer resigned from the board of directors of Yike, Fang Zhuo was still re-elected as Sony's outside director.

In the past few years, business cooperation, patent licensing, technology complementarity, and joint investment between companies...

Together these create a "model".

When Yike was born, it was at the tail end of Sony's peak. At that time, Sony's market value was close to US$140 billion. Now, Yike's market value has exceeded US$170 billion, and Sony still has nearly US$30 billion. The two combined are about to exceed the US$200 billion market. close.

From 1400 to 2000, the overall scale has increased, and the products are spread all over the world. It can be called a win-win situation.

Therefore, the changes of Yi and Suo are quite surprising.

Moreover, as soon as the matter came to light, Mr. Fang resigned as a director and Ishida Yoshihisa publicly criticized him. The contradiction was too prominent.

It involves two world-famous companies, and it was triggered directly from the top. The fierce attitude of Sony's new head has attracted widespread public attention, including Apple and Samsung.

Because this year's Sony sensors are supplied to three companies.

There are less than two months left before Yusanjia’s October press conference. At this juncture, a battle for control breaks out. What do you want to do? Can we still ensure stable production capacity?

The parties' response did not keep public opinion waiting for too long.

Fang Zhuo, the head of Yike, accepted a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal, denying Yoshihisa Ishida's criticism, and asked from afar, "Sony is the major shareholder of the sensor company, and Yike only holds 24.7% of the shares, so how can we seek control."

At the same time, he revealed the matter from his own perspective, "Sony Sensor Company is developing rapidly and well. Sony Group intends to buy back its shares, but Yike rejects it, which creates a conflict."

Finally, Fang Zhuo talked about his expectations, "I hope the Sony Group will respect the independent operations of the sensor company. I make it clear that I do not want or accept Sony's share buyback. The biggest reason is that I have lost confidence in the Sony Group's operations."

He ended the interview with his final emotion, "Sony is no longer the same Sony."

In just half a day, the domestic media reprinted the report from Wall Street, and Sina even used the indignant headline "If you want to accuse me, there is no excuse"!

If you want to incriminate yourself, why bother?

No major shareholder would accuse a small shareholder of seeking control!

Is it common sense?

As soon as Mr. Fang’s response came out, TH, a well-known hedge fund on Wall Street, immediately spoke out and wrote an open letter to Sony. He believed that the divestiture of Sony sensors was an extremely successful decision and should not hinder its independent operation and development. It should continue promote its launch.

What are the virtues of Sony Group?

What do Sony sensors look like now?

Still don’t know how to choose?

Of course, although TH expressed his views, his words were more euphemistic.

However, Sony heard it very clearly. This advice was quickly rejected by another vice president of Sony, saying that it would make decisions based on principles more suitable for the development of the sensor business and would never succumb to any external pressure.

The attitude of the major shareholders is very tough. Although it is not completely clear that they want to take back the sensor business to the group, this "never surrender" still makes people slightly worried about the fate of Sony Sensor Company.

Some media have sorted out the ownership structure of the sensor company. In addition to Sony's major shareholder holding 52.9% of the shares and Yike's second shareholder holding 24.7%, there are also six scattered European, American and Japanese investment institutions.

On the surface, it is difficult for Yike to pursue control, but...

If this company continues to raise funds, or even waits until it goes public, considering the status of Yike and Mr. Fang's influence, the current 24.7% stake is indeed a lot.

After the public opinion was exposed, neither Yiko nor Sony made any further comments. The matter seemed to have eased with the statement of Hiroshi Yoshioka, another executive vice president of Sony.

"Sony does not have to take the sensor business back to the group, but is just exploring a more appropriate development direction."

"There are some misunderstandings between us and Mr. Fang."

"Mr. Fang is a visionary business leader, and Sony has always been grateful for his cooperation over the years. I must emphasize that what we are facing now is a solvable problem, and the supply of Sony sensors will never be affected. Influence."

Hiroshi Yoshioka's qualifications and status are very high, and he has now been elected to Sony's board of directors. His voice and the silence of head Yoshihisa Ishida are considered a compromise.

More current status of Sony Sensor Company has also been revealed. The CMOS sensors now supplied to smartphones all come from Bingxin International’s Shanghai factory. However, this factory in which Sony Sensors once held 50% of the shares has long been taken over by Bingxin. International controls and operates the company.

In other words, the CMOS that Sony sensors currently use as their signature brand around the world is controlled by Mr. Fang.

Hiroshi Yoshioka's statement did not receive a response from Yike and Mr. Fang, but this is normal. Such business conflicts often take a long time to communicate and ease.

One side is the major shareholder with continuous R\u0026D capabilities, and the other side is the secondary shareholder who owns a lot of shares and controls manufacturing capabilities. Even if there is really no relaxation, we must discuss the disposal of the shares.

Two days later, just as the media's attention was diverted from this matter, new news was angrily exposed by Sony.

——Yike established a wholly-owned subsidiary "Yike Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd."

——The team from Sony Shanghai R\u0026D Laboratory switched jobs to Yike Optoelectronics.

——Bingxin International requested to repurchase the 28.9% shares of the second factory still held by Sony.

The expected relaxation did not occur. Instead, the conflict between the two parties directly broke through in an unexpectedly fierce way.

Yike chose to abandon Sony and directly make CMOS sensors by itself!

How are patents counted? What does the order say? What about capacity supply?

Yike has transformed from a collaborator to a direct competitor. Sony Sensor Company's factory in Japan has not delivered yet. How to solve the current situation?

A series of issues were put on the table and once again attracted media attention.

In just two days, Sony suppressed its anger after the news was exposed. Yike and Bingxin also remained silent, but new information was revealed one after another.

It is said that Sony did not expect that Yi Ke would be so tough. The head Yoshihisa Ishida, Executive Vice President Hiroshi Yoshioka and other senior executives flew to Shanghai. However, they did not meet Mr. Fang himself.

Also, Sony executives visited Shanghai Factory No. 2 on the spot, but they didn't even get in.

On September 29, Sony head Yoshihisa Ishida, who returned to Tokyo, held a press conference and faced various media outlets, angrily stating that "this is a shameful robbery."

At the same time, lawsuits will be filed against Yike and the departing employees.

This time, Yike finally gave a public response.

"Yike is deeply worried about the future of Sony Sensor Company and is not sure whether Sony Group's decision-making is based on the interests of the group or the interests of the sensor company."

"Based on the control of a stable supply chain, Yike has established a subsidiary dedicated to imaging and sensing solutions."

"Sony's CMOS research and development is a joint effort between Yike, Bingxin, and Sony. It has also carried out patent mutual grant. Yike Optoelectronics has not committed any infringement, and everything is within the framework of patent mutual grant."

"The recent employees of Yike Optoelectronics belong to the R\u0026D laboratory of Ice Core International Shencheng No. 2 Factory. Sony Group's remarks are untrue and have misled public opinion. Yike reserves the right to pursue legal responsibility."

Yike's status quo statements and Yike Optoelectronics' quick contact with customers completely angered Sony.

Patents are indeed... mutually granted, not only CMOS patents, but also process patents for ice cores. Yike has also worked hard on R\u0026D, but Sony is still the largest R\u0026D party!

The changes to the laboratory team were carried out last year to allow the ice core to pay high salaries and bonuses. Now it seems that all this was premeditated and premeditated!

Can the situation be undone?

Yike Optoelectronics is about to start taking orders!

Ryoharu Nakahata, a senior advisor to the Sony Group and the man who twice missed the position of head of Sony, saw this situation and his resentment over the years was finally stimulated to burst out. He faced the media directly and exposed Fang Zhuo's true story. face.

"Fang Zhuo has already planned for Sony sensors!"

"It was he who lobbied Stringer in Tokyo to divest the business!"

"Not only the sensors, Sony's current decline is inseparable from Fang Zhuo's contribution. Stringer's whitewashing of financial reports during his tenure was aided by Fang Zhuo's funds!"

"No, no, no, when Stringer became CEO of Sony, Fang Zhuo also came to join the board of directors!"

"Fang Zhuo tried his best to persuade the directors to vote for Stringer on Sony's board of directors, which ultimately led to a British man who had no idea how the group's overall business should develop to become the leader of Sony, which indirectly led to Sony's years of decline! "

"That was 2005! Stringer's election as CEO of Sony was a mistake, and his mistake coupled with Fangzhuo's election as an outside director was even more wrong! Mistakes were compounded, which resulted in Sony's strategic confusion!"

Ryoji Nakabachi's resentment for many years was extremely turbulent when it broke out. He even traced back to past events that had nothing to do with the sensor business, and implicated the former head, Stringer.

He mentioned "whitewashing of financial reports", mentioned "financial assistance", and also mentioned a crucial board meeting in 2005!

Ryoharu Nakahachi is now marginalized at Sony, but he was once the absolute top executive, and even personally participated in the board of directors and competed for the position of CEO. This revelation...

Media that were originally not interested in the sensor business were attracted.

This is the secret history!

Without the parties involved to come forward, these will be buried in history!

Judging from this revelation, it seems that Sony and Yike became a "model" of cooperation during the period when Stringer was in charge of the group. However, with Stringer's resignation, the contradiction between the two parties immediately became acute.

Right! Totally right!

How did Fang Zhuo suddenly become an outside director of Sony?

It turned out to be Stringer’s support!

How did Stringer become the head of Sony?

It turns out that it was Fang Zhuo who was making suggestions behind the scenes and even attended the board of directors in person?

As for the whitewashing of financial reports and capital transactions, can these still be investigated?

Chinese and foreign media have reported that the conflict between Yike and Sony has escalated from the sensor level to another level, and Stringer, who was suddenly pulled out, is very angry. What does Sony want to do?

He responded immediately and helped defend: "Many people forget that I became CEO of Sony because Sony's previous business suffered a serious decline. I did not stand up for this position, but to save Sony."

"Sony's Executive Vice President Hiroshi Yoshioka also said a few days ago that Mr. Fang is a visionary business leader, and his appointment as an outside director of Sony is a common appointment in the industry."

"Ryoji Nakahata didn't mention that Sony's previous board of directors didn't just have Mr. Fang as an outside director, but had several well-known business leaders, including Japanese companies, and even Mr. Fang was not just a Chinese. .”

"Can I be elected CEO only with the support of Mr. Fang? No, only when most people support me can I become the CEO of Sony."

"Ryoji Nakahata is a loser. Facts have proved that Sony's divestiture of the sensor business is extremely correct. The subsidiary's development has a bright future. It is now the number one in the CMOS field. Without the success of Yike Mobile Phones, there would be no Sony Sensors." Success, this was supposed to be a win-win situation, but due to the short-sightedness of Sony’s top management, it has resulted in the current regrettable situation!”

"Ryoji Nakabachi unreasonably smeared me for 'whitewashing financial reports,' but many decisions were made together through discussion."

"Why did my reform of Sony fail?"

"It is precisely because Sony is filled with too many people like Ryoji Nakahata that during my years as CEO, most of my energy had to be focused on rigid personnel reforms."

"Let me give you an example. Everyone knows that the development of smartphones has been booming around the world in recent years, but Sony has been very slow in this regard because there is a lot of internal struggle. It is very normal for Sony's mobile phone department to want to use the technology of the camera department. Internal cooperation, but has always been rejected by the latter.”

“Sony’s camera department’s technology would rather be given to outside brands than to its own mobile phones.”

"Guess how this situation changed?"

"It was Mr. Fang, an outside director, who noticed this situation, made suggestions and intervened, and finally allowed Sony mobile phones to use its own technology, which also brought about reforms in some departments."

"This matter can be verified both inside and outside Sony."

"Ryoji Nakabachi, a loser, is full of jealousy. I think the current CEO Yoshihisa Ishida made the wrong decision. However, fortunately it was not Ryoharu Nakabachi who was elected CEO. Otherwise, he would have been worse than Yoshihisa Ishida!"

Stringer knows how to poke people's pain, and he also uses practical examples to illustrate Mr. Fang's kindness.

The former head of Sony did not want to take the blame, so he stood up and revealed Sony's serious internal struggle. Public opinion was once again in an uproar, and people from all walks of life quickly gathered.

Secret history! New secret history!

Any more?

Tear them all apart!

The current boss, the former boss, the executive vice president, the senior consultant, the promising sensor business, Yike's decision to leave the table and go it alone, and some of Mr. Fang's small activities over the past few years...

Who is right and who is wrong?

Is it possible that Mr. Fang really had intentions for Sony sensors many years ago?

Does whitewashing of financial reports exist? Did Stringer and Mr. Fang collude?

All of a sudden, analyzes were flying everywhere.

However, at this time, Sina became cautious, did not write lightly, and maintained a certain degree of low-key. This matter... this matter, it is difficult to comment.

It seems like someone is hacking the boss...

Why is it dark?

They told what happened in the past!