This is one of Sony's most lucrative companies: we're talking about the sensor division, which produces as much as 16 percent of the entire company's operating profit (i.e. about $8 billion). Things might alter in the future, though, also thanks to investors ' push.
As reported by Reuters, Dan Loeb, who has a $1.5 billion investment fund (Third Point) in Sony stocks, is pushing to separate the Japanese company's sensor division entirely. This would allow companies such as video games (PlayStation), music, or films to be focused on. The fresh company decision would also have an effect on the portion devoted to Sony-made cameras using sensors (and that would also have an effect on other third-party producers).
It is very expensive to do research and development and produce semiconductors (such as sensors) by removing resources from other divisions and reducing their competitiveness. However, if not prevent this type of operation, the conflict between Huawei / China and the US could slow down. In reality, sensor sales are influenced by the smartphone industry and Sony may be impacted if the latter slows considerably.
However, from another point of perspective, as the amount of cameras incorporated in each single smartphone increases, the amount of sensors that Sony could sell could improve.
The shareholder strategy would be to build a fresh, Japan-listed government business that would be able to "operate" on its own. In reality, Dan Loeb added, "Sony Technologies would be a showcase for Japan's technological capacities as an autonomous public company listed in Japan. Rather than a raw, uncut rock buried within Sony's portfolio, Sony Technologies would be noticeable as a Japanese crown jewel and technology champion."