Pioneer owner weighs sale of Japanese electronics maker

BPEA EQT is considering selling the iconic Japanese electronics maker Pioneer amid interest from potential buyers, according to people familiar with the matter.

The buyout firm has been discussing with advisers a potential sale and could seek a valuation of around US$1.5 billion for the maker of audio, video and car navigation equipment, the people said. Other industry players and investment funds have shown preliminary interest in acquiring the asset, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.

Considerations are at an early stage, no final decisions have been made and the buyout firm could still decide against a sale, the people said. A representative for BPEA EQT declined to comment.

BPEA acquired and took Pioneer private in 2019 in a 102-billion yen (S$944 million) revival plan, which aimed to bring stability to the business by securing working capital and management support while removing uncertainty about its operations.

Tracing its roots back to the 1930s, Pioneer become an icon of audio electronics including its dynamic speakers and stereo systems. It helped change karaoke and home entertainment in the 1980s with laser discs, invested heavily in plasma televisions and introduced the world’s first commercial OLED display for a car stereo in the 1990s.

The business was faced by challenges as technology evolved, and it has shifted its focus on car navigation and visualisation systems as it seeks to break into the autonomous car market. BLOOMBERG