Tamron confirms Sony is making a bid for lens-maker Tamron
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Reuters reports Japanese camera lens maker Tamron Co. Ltd. confirmed the rumors it had received an acquisition proposal from Sony Group and that it has established a committee to review its options.
Following is Tamron’s statement:
Yesterday, there were certain media reports by Diamond Online stating that Tamron Co., Ltd. had received an acquisition proposal. However, this information was not announced by the Company. It is true that the Company has received a non-binding proposal from Sony Corporation regarding a series of transactions to make the Company a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, and that the Company has established a Special Committee in response to this proposal to review various options aimed at enhancing its corporate value. However, there are no matters that should be disclosed at this time. If any matters requiring disclosure arise in the future, the Company will make a prompt announcement.
The optical components manufacturer said in a statement that Sony made a non-binding proposal for a series of transactions to turn it into a wholly owned subsidiary. Tamron did not disclose the financial details of the proposal.
A Sony spokesperson told Reuters said the entertainment and technology conglomerate believes the proposal will enhance Tamron’s corporate value and the interests of its stakeholders, and contribute to the development of Sony’s imaging business.
The Diamond Online article referenced earlier states Sony intends to acquire all of Tamron’s shares for a price of around 200 billion yen.
In recent years, most of Sony’s acquisitions have been in the entertainment sector, including game studio Bungie in 2012, while the electronics division has not. In fact, earlier this year it spun off its television business.
Tamron’s business is still primarily made up of photographic lenses, as shown on its investor relations site.
Sony has been a long-time investor in Tamron, owning more than 15% of the company. According to TechTimes, however, a Singapore-based fund has been steadily accruing Tamron shares. “Over the past year, Singapore-based activist fund Effissimo Capital Management staged a methodical accumulation of Tamron stock, beginning at approximately 10.8% in late 2025 and building steadily: 12.04% in July 2025, 13.06% by October, 14.12% by December, 15.30% by February 2026, 16.34% in March, and reaching 17.38% — 29,691,800 shares — as of March 31, 2026, per regulatory filings with Japan’s Electronic Disclosure for Investors’ NeTwork. That put Effissimo ahead of Sony’s 25,038,000 shares for the first time in Tamron’s modern history,” according to Donald C. Chase of TechTimes.
